r 


HISTORY    OF 
THE    YANKEE    DIVISION 


Marceau 


Major-General  Clarence  R.  Edwards 


HISTORY 


OF  THE 


YANKEE  DIVISION 


by 


HARRY   A.    BEN  WELL 


<  I 


tvith  appreciations  by 


GENERAL  JOHN  J.   PERSHING 
MAJOR-GENERAL  CLARENCE  R.   EDWARDS 


and 


SECRETARY    OF    WAR    NEWTON    D.    BAKER 


THE   CORNHILL   COMPANY 

BOSTON 


(LtA 


Copyright,  1919,  by 

THE  CORNHILL  COMPANY 

Boston 


Copyright,  1919,  by  New  England  Newspaper  Publishing  Company 


CONTENTS 


Chapter 

I. 

Chapter 

II. 

Chapter 

III. 

Chapter 

IV. 

Chapter 

V. 

Chapter 

VI. 

Chapter 

VII. 

Chapter 

VIII. 

Chapter 

IX. 

Chapter 

X. 

Chapter 

XI. 

Chapter 

XII. 

Chapter 

XIII. 

Chapter 

XIV. 

Chapter 

XV. 

Chapter 

XVI. 

Chapter 

XVII. 

Chapter 

XVIII. 

Chapter 

XIX. 

Chapter 

XX. 

Chapter 

XXI. 

Chapter 

XXII. 

Chapter 

XXIII. 

Chapter 

XXIV. 

Chapter 

XXV. 

Chapter 

XXVI. 

Chapter  XXVII. 

Appendix 

.— Ros 

page 
vii 


IX 


Jr  nliii'  AC'Cjf  *  •  •  •  •  •  ■  •  ■  *  * 

General  Pershing's  Tribute  to  the  Yankee  Division, 

General  Edwards'  Tribute  to  the  Yankee  Division,  .          .          .  xi 

Secretary  Baker's  Tribute  to  the  Yankee  Division,  .          .         .  xiii 

History  of  the  Yankee  Division,           ......  3 

Organization,      .......  11 

Expands  All  United  States  Units,           ...  23 

Training  in  France,     ......  32 

Enjoy  Old-fashioned  Christmas,  ....  39 

•  First  United  States  Divisional  Shot  in  War,  .          .  47 

•  Yankee  Spirit  Amazes  the  French,         ...  56 
Move  to  Start  a  Big  Drive,           ....  62 

Battle  of  Apremont,    ......  70 

How  They  "  Kept  the  Faith,"       ....  79 

Boche  Beaten  at  Own  Game,        ....  86 

"Saviors  of  Paris," 92 

•  Germans  "  Pinched  Out." 101 

•  General  Degoutte's  Tributes,        ....  106 

•  Sniper  "Gets"  Young  "Scotty,"  .  .  .114 

•  St.  Mihiel  Salient  Wiped  Out 137 

■  Flank  of  Twenty-sixth  Uncovered,         .          .          .  144 

■  102d  Infantry  Cited 152 

■  Edwards'  Report  on  St.  Mihiel,    ....  156 

-  102d  Takes  Prisoners 164 

-  Colonel  Bearss's  Report,      .....  171 

-  Yankees  Create  Diversion,  .....  176 

•  Transferred  to  Verdun,         .....  180 

-  Praised  for  Action  at  Hattonchatcl,       .          .          .  192 

-  The  Cessation  of  Hostilities,          ....  204 

-  President  Wilson  Dines  with  the  Twenty-sixth,       .  208 

-  Animals  of  the  Division,       .....  222 
-"  Homeward  Bound," 234 

Roster  of  OflScers,  Twenty-sixth  Division,  as  Originally 

Organized,         ........  249 

Individual  Servicb  Record,   ........  275 


PREFACE 


In  preparing  the  *' History  of  the  Yankee  Division," 
the  author  is  indebted  to  Major-General  Clarence  R. 
Edwards,  General  John  J.  Pershing,  Secretary  of  War 
Newton  D.  Baker  and  Brigadier-General  Harry  C.  Hale 
for  tributes  to  the  Twenty-sixth  Division,  which  appear 
as  forewords. 

Thanks  are  also  due  for  personal  assistance  rendered 
in  the  compilation  of  the  work  by  Major-General 
Edwards,  Brigadier-General  Charles  H.  Cole,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Andrew  L.  Pendleton,  Brigadier-General  George 
H.  Shelton,  Major  John  W.  Hyatt,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
James  L.  Howard,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hamilton  R.  Hor- 
sey, and  other  members  of  the  Division,  both  officers  and 
enlisted  men,  together  with  Bert  Ford,  Boston's  own  war 
correspondent;  and  also  to  The  New  England  Publishing 
Company  for  the  pennission  to  reprint  the  work  which 
appeared  serially  in  the  Boston  Sunday  Advertiser  and 
American  and  the  Boston  American. 

It  is  hoped  that  readers  of  this  book,  especially  those 
associated  with  the  famous  Yankee  Division,  will  accept 
it  in  the  spirit  in  which  it  is  offered,  —  as  a  tribute  to 
the  men  of  the  Division  and  to  its  great  leader,  Clarence 
Ransome  Edwards. 


GENERAL    PERSHING'S    TRIBUTE    TO    THE 
YANKEE    DIVISION 


American  Expeditionary  Forces, 
Office  of  the  Commander-in-Chief,  Marct21,  1919. 

Major-General    Harry    C.  Hale,  Commanding    Twenty -sixth  Division, 
American  Expeditionary  Forces,  Ecommoy. 

My  Dear  General  Hale  :  —  It  gives  me  a  great 
deal  of  pleasure  to  congratulate  you,  and  through  you 
all  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Twenty -sixth  Division, 
on  their  splendid  appearance  at  the  inspection  and  review 
which  was  held  near  jficommoy  on  February  19.  The 
spirit  and  soldierly  bearing  of  all  ranks  pleased  me  very 
much,  and  was  what  one  would  have  expected  of  a  division 
with  such  a  long  and  excellent  record  in  France. 

Arriving  in  the  autumn  of  1917,  the  division  went 
through  the  prescribed  course  of  instruction  until  early 
in  1918,  when,  brigaded  with  the  French,  it  entered  the 
line  for  a  month  and  a  half's  further  training  north  of 
Soissons,  in  the  Chemin  des  Dames  sector.  It  was  with- 
drawn for  rest  when  the  German  offensive  of  March 
21  necessitated  its  immediate  return  to  the  line  in  the 
La  Reine  and  Boucq  sectors,  north  of  Toul.  Here  it 
had  two  important  engagements,  —  one  in  the  Apremont 
Forest,  where  it  repulsed  with  loss  a  heavy  German  raid, 
and  at  Seicheprey,  where  casualties  on  both  sides  amounted 
to  approximately  2,000  men. 

On  July  18  the  division  was  thrown  into  the  battle 
between  the  Aisne  and  the  Marne,  advancing  in  seven 
days  more  than  17  kilometers  against  determined  enemy 

ix 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

opposition,  and  capturing  the  towTis  of  Epieds,  Trugny, 
Torcey,  Belleau  and  Givry. 

It  next  took  part  in  the  American  offensive  of  Septem- 
ber at  St.  Mihiel.  Operating  under  the  Fifth  Corps 
in  the  Rupt  and  Troyon  sectors,  north  of  St.  Mihiel,  it 
captured  Bois-des-Eparges,  Hattonchatel  and  Vigneulles. 

Later,  during  the  Meuse-Argonne  offensive,  it  attacked 
northeast  of  Verdun,  and  aided  in  the  storming  of  Etrayes 
Ridge,  capturing  Bois-de-Belleu  and  the  Bois  d'Ormont, 
one  of  the  most  formidable  heights  in  that  region.  The 
division  was  in  this  sector  when  the  armistice  called  a 
halt  to  active  operations. 

Each  soldier  should  be  proud  of  the  share  which  the 
Twenty-sixth  Division  has  had  in  adding  glory  to  the 
fighting  record  of  our  armies,  and  I  want  every  man  to 
know  of  my  own  appreciation,  and  that  of  his  fellows 
throughout  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces,  for  the 
splendid  work  which  has  been  done. 

Very  sincerely  yours. 


X 


GENERAL   EDWARDS'   TRIBUTE  TO  THE 
YANKEE    DIVISION 


Headquarters  Northeastern  Department, 

99  Chauncy  Street,  Boston,  Mass. 

In  answer  to  your  gracious  request  that  I  give  to  you 
some  words  of  mine  that  you  may  use  in  your  paper  as  a 
tribute  to  the  Yankee  (Twenty-sixth)  Division,  that  it  was 
my  good  fortune  to  command  until  the  twenty-fifth  day 
of  October,  1918,  I  hasten  to  say  to  you  that  the  Yankee 
Division  proved  itself  to  be  a  stout-hearted  lot  of  lads, 
whose  acts,  determination,  dash  and  enduring  carrying-on 
ability  under  the  greatest  handicaps  and  desperate  tests 
in  critical  times  of  this  great  war  definitely  proved  that 
the  blood  of  New  England  had  not  attenuated. 

Advance  notice  of  the  authority  to  organize  this  divi- 
sion was  received  by  telegram  from  Washington,  August 
13,  1917;  the  birth  of  the  division  dates  from  August  22, 
very  nearly  simultaneously  with  the  formal  authority  to 
organize  it.  On  that  date  it  was  fully  organized  through- 
out and  its  ranks  full. 

It  was  never  concentrated  as  a  division  until  after  it 
reached  France.  It  was  the  first  division  to  be  fully 
organized  under  the  American  flag.  The  whole  division 
went  into  the  firing  line  on  the  Chemin  des  Dames  on  the 
6th  of  February,  1918,  after  three  months'  training  under 
diflSculties  which  were  as  great  as  ever  fell  to  the  lot  of  a 
division.  It  was  forty-six  days  in  the  first-line  trenches, 
without  one  case  of  absence  without  leave,  on  the  Che- 
min des  Dames,  where  it  was  first  concentrated  as  a 
division. 

xi 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

With  the  exception  of  a  ten  days'  training  period  after 
Chateau-Thierry,  at  Chatillon-sur-Seine,  where  it  absorbed 
6,000  replacements,  this  division,  without  one  day's  fur- 
lough, was  fighting  and  functioning  as  a  division  with 
every  element  complete  and  in  co-ordination  tested  out 
by  the  most  desperate  battles  of  the  war.  No  division 
had  harder  service,  no  division  was  longer  in  the  line  or 
gained  more  distance  or  fought  off  more  attacks  than  did 
this  division. 

It  was  not  a  Regular  Army  division,  it  was  not  a 
National  Guard  division,  nor  was  it  a  National  Army 
division;  it  was  a  division  of  the  army  of  the  United 
States  in  accordance  with  the  President's  orders,  and  no 
better  division  ever  fought  under  the  American  flag  or 
any  other  flag. 

This  division  had  an  "esprit,"  a  soul,  which  well  took 
the  place  of  the  lack  of  time  heretofore  deemed  necessary 
to  fit  a  division  to  fight  as  this  division  did.  The  record 
of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division,  —  its  discipline,  its  accom- 
plishments, what  it  did  to  the  enemy  compared  to  its 
own  losses,  —  is  a  valuable  lesson  to  the  United  States  to 
indicate  what  can  be  accomplished  in  the  shortest  time, 
and  its  best  argument  in  support  of  universal  training  of 
the  youth  of  America,  which  I  hope  and  pray  will  not  be 
ignored.  It  tells  how  citizens  can  be  mobilized,  and  any- 
body who  approaches  the  defence  of  the  United  States 
from  the  standpoint  other  than  the  mobilization  of  all  its 
citizenry  fails  to  solve  the  problem  of  defence. 

Loyalty  is  the  priceless  jewel  of  chivalry,  and  that 
jewel  was  in  the  hearts  of  the  men  of  the  Twenty-sixth 
Division. 


xu 


SECRETARY    BAKER'S    TRIBUTE    TO    THE 
YANKEE    DIVISION 


The  Twenty-sixth  Division,  under  the  command  of 
Major-General  Clarence  R.  Edwards,  embarked  for  France 
in  September,  1917.  It  trained  actively  after  its  arrival 
in  France,  and  in  March,  1918,  was  associated  with  the 
Eleventh  French  Army  Corps.  It  was  with  this  corps 
until  it  moved  to  the  district  of  Toul  to  take  over  the  sec- 
tor occupied  by  the  First  Regular  Division  of  the  United 
States  Army.  In  July  it  engaged  in  active  offensive  oper- 
ations as  a  part  of  the  Sixth  French  Army.  It  participated 
in  the  attack  north  of  the  Marne,  and  later  played  a 
decisive  part  in  the  battle  of  the  St.  Mihiel  salient  and  in 
the  battle  of  the  Argonne. 

Throughout  its  career  it  won  the  high  praise  of  its  French 
associates  for  its  gallantry  and  soldierly  qualities.  It  is 
one  of  America's  veteran  divisions,  and  it  has  left  a  record 
in  France  which  is  its  full  share  of  the  glory  achieved  by 
our  great  anny  there.  The  people  of  the  New  England 
States  who  contributed  these  soldiers  to  the  American 
Expeditionary  Forces  can  welcome  their  heroes  back,  for 
they  are  heroes  —  men  who  have  had  a  perilous  and  diffi- 
cult duty  and  who  have  done  it  to  the  admiration  of  all 
beholders.  They  have  had  losses,  and  many  of  the  men 
returned  with  wound  chevrons  to  show  the  fierceness  of 
the  contests  in  which  they  participated,  but  they  have 
exalted  the  traditions  of  the  country  from  which  they 
came,  they  have  played  the  part  of  men  on  the  greatest 
stage  in  the  world,  and  they  bring  back  glory  for  their  own 
achievements  and  victory  for  the  national  cause. 

Secretary  of   War. 

•  •  • 

XllI 


THE   YANKEE    DIVISION 


History"  of 
THE    YANKEE    DIVISION 


"The  Yankee  Division!" 

A  name  to  conjure  with  wherever  fighting  abihty  is 
respected. 

A  division  that  will  go  down  into  immortality  as  hav- 
ing gloriously  upheld  the  martial  traditions  of  New  Eng- 
land, and  established  new  standards  of  fighting  efficiency 
in  the  great  war  for  democracy. 

A  division  that  carried  out  the  most  brilliant  attacks  in 
the  face  of  all  obstacles,  and  whose  sheer,  indomitable 
spirit  caused  these  heroes  to  go  on,  superior  to  exhaustion 
and  disease. 

Time  and  again  the  Twenty-sixth  achieved  what  the  vet- 
eran French  believed  to  be  impossibilities,  and  as  a  result 
the  Yankee  Division  came  to  be  known  as  "Shock  Troops." 

The  first  full  division  to  be  organized  and  transported 
to  France,  and  the  first  to  occupy  a  sector  as  a  full  divi- 
sion, the  Twenty-sixth  had  nearly  ten  months  of  contin- 
uous service,  and  took  part  in  the  bloodiest  battles  of  the 
war. 

Chemin  des  Dames,  the  Toul  sector,  Chateau-Thierry, 
Seicheprey,  Belleau  Wood,  the  St.  Mihiel  salient,  Argonne 
Forest  and  many  others  testify  to  the  high  emprise  and 
daredevil  courage  of  the  fighting  New  Englanders. 

Carrying  out  their  operations  with  skill,  endurance, 
bulldog  tenacity  and  cold  nerve  that  has  never  been  sur- 
passed, the  division  was  time  and  again  selected  to  hold 
the  hardest  positions,  and  as  a  result  thousands  of  the 
men  were  cited  for  bravery  or  won  the  Croix  de  Guerre. 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

The  Twenty-sixth  Division  led  all  other  National 
Guard  divisions  in  the  number  of  decorations  received, 
and  stood  fourth  in  the  list  of  American  divisions  in  the 
matter  of  citations. 

The  colors  of  the  104th  Infantry,  formerly  the  2d,  6th 
and  8th  Massachusetts,  were  decorated  with  the  Croix 
de  Guerre,  and  for  a  long  time  this  was  the  only  regiment 
in  the  United  States  Army  to  be  so  honored  by  a  foreign 
government. 

As  a  further  testimonial,  and  owing  to  the  fact  that  it 
had  seen  the  most  service,  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  was 
host  to  President  Wilson  at  a  Christmas  dinner  while  he 
was  in  France  attending  the  Peace  Conference.  In  addi- 
tion, a  battalion  of  the  division  acted  as  guard  of  honor 
to  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army  of  the  United 
States. 

From  February  6,  1918,  until  the  signing  of  the  armis- 
tice, the  Yankee  Division  was  almost  continually  in  action, 
with  the  result  that  the  men  were  too  exhausted  to  make 
up  a  part  of  the  Army  of  Occupation,  and  thereby  carry 
out  their  cherished  desire  of  marching  into  Germany. 

Shunted  from  one  part  of  France  to  another  wherever 
there  was  a  difficult  task  to  be  done,  the  Twenty-sixth 
Division  scarcely  ever  knew  where  it  would  be  next  day. 
At  one  time  the  Yankees  were  the  only  troops  between 
the  German  and  the  beautiful  French  capital  which  he 
had  sworn  to  occupy.  They  threw  him  back,  and  for 
that  act  were  hailed  as  the  *' Saviors  of  Paris." 

Undaunted  by  cold,  fatigue,  insufficient  food  and  cloth- 
ing, and  an  almost  paralyzing  lack  of  sleep,  they  pressed 
on,  with  only  ten  days'  rest  in  nearly  ten  months. 

When  the  end  came,  and  they  were  selected  to  make 
up  part  of  the  Army  of  Triumph  of  General  Foch,  it  was 
found  that  they  were  done.     Casualties  had  reduced  the 


Major-General  Harry  C.  Hale 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

companies  to  half  strength.  Human  beings  could  stand 
no  more.  Their  shoes  were  worn  out,  their  clothing  was 
in  rags,  they  had  but  a  handful  of  emaciated  horses, 
and  their  equipment  was  in  terrible  condition.  There- 
fore they  were  compelled  to  move  to  a  training  area  for 
the  rest  and  recuperation,  refilling  and  refitting,  to  which 
they  were  so  justly  entitled. 

From  beginning  to  end  the  record  of  the  Twenty-sixth 
Division  was  one  that  should  make  every  New  Englander's 
heart  swell  with  pride.  Not  only  in  battle  did  the  New 
England  boys  conduct  themselves  like  heroes,  but  while 
on  leave  their  conduct  was  so  exemplary  that  the  gen- 
eral in  command  of  the  leave  area  was  forced  to  comment 
on  it. 

They  added  another  chapter  to  New  England  history, 
and  their  deeds  will  take  rank  with  those  of  the  heroes  of 
Bunker  Hill  and  the  Green  Mountain  boys  at  Ticonderoga. 

Many  failed  to  come  back,  but  they  gave  up  their 
lives  for  one  of  the  most  worthy  causes  the  world  has 
ever  known.  They  sleep  in  hallowed  graves,  which  are 
carefully  tended  by  grateful  French  women,  who  breathe 
a  prayer  with  every  flower  they  lay  on  the  last  resting 
places  of  the  chivalrous  Americans. 

The  division  sailed  from  the  United  States  with  nearly 
28,000  New  Englanders,  but  when  the  armistice  was 
signed  less  than  30  per  cent,  of  the  original  members 
remained.  The  casualties  numbered  11,955,  and  the  New 
Englanders  were  further  reduced  by  transfers. 

The  Yankee  Division  spent  an  aggregate  of  two  hun- 
dred and  ten  days  on  the  firing  line,  and  while  in  the  La 
Reine  and  Boucq  sector,  north  of  Toul,  was  engaged  in 
the  first  two  battles  in  which  the  Americans  fought  with- 
out the  support  of  French  infantry. 

It  was  never  concentrated  as  a  division  until  it  went 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

into  the  line  for  the  first  time,  on  the  Chemin  des  Dames 
sector,  north  of  Soissons,  when  it  was  placed  in  support 
of  the  French  on  February  6,  1918.  For  nine  months 
following  this  time  the  division  spent  only  ten  days  in  a 
rest  area,  yet  it  captured  thousands  of  prisoners  and 
material,  and  advanced  a  total  depth  of  37  kilometers. 

The  impression  made  by  the  division  on  the  enemy 
was  shown  by  an  extract  from  a  confidential  document, 
captured  from  the  Nineteenth  German  Army,  and  made 
public  by  British  general  headquarters,  which  read :  — 

The  Twenty-sixth  American  Division  is  a  fighting  division 
which  has  proven  its  qualities  in  battles  on  various  parts  of  the 
front. 

The  division  was  cited  in  General  Orders  No.  7,  Head- 
quarters Eleventh  Army  Corps  (French),  March  15,  1918. 

Cited  (104th  Infantry)  in  General  Orders  No.  737A., 
Headquarters  Thirty-second  Army  Corps  (French),  April 
26,  1918. 

Commended  (101st  Infantry)  in  service  memorandum, 
Headquarters  Eighth  Army  (French),  June  8,  1918. 

Commended  in  memorandum,  Headquarters  Seventh 
Army  (French),  June  17,  1918. 

Congratulated  in  memorandum.  Headquarters  Thirty- 
second  Anny  Corps  (French),  June  18,  1918. 

Cited  in  General  Orders  No.  131,  Headquarters  Thirty- 
second  Army  Corps  (French),  June  18,  1918. 

Commended  (103d  Infantry)  in  letter  from  General 
Headquarters,  A.  E.  F.,  June  20,  1918. 

Cited  in  General  Orders  No.  133,  Headquarters  Thirty- 
second  Army  Corps  (French),  June  27,  1918. 

Congratulated  in  letter,  Headquarters  Sixth  Army 
(French),  July  29,  1918. 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Cited  in  General  Orders,  Sixth  Army  (French),  August 
9,  1918. 

Cited  in  General  Orders,  General  Headquarters,  A.  E.  F., 
August  28,  1918. 

Cited  (102d  Infantry)  in  General  Orders  No.  19,  Head- 
quarters Fifth  Army  Corps,  A.  E.  F.,  September  18,  1918. 

Commended  in  letter  from  Headquarters  Second  Colo- 
nial Corps  (French),  October  7,  1918. 

Commended  in  letter  from  Headquarters  Second  Colo- 
nial Corps  (French),  October  24,  1918. 

Commended  in  letter  from  Headquarters  Seventeenth 
Army  Corps  (French),  October  24,  1918. 

Commended  (104th  Infantry)  in  letter  from  Head- 
quarters Eighteenth  Division  (French),  October  17,  1918. 

Commended  in  letter  from  Headquarters  Second  Colo- 
nial Corps  (French),  November  14,  1918. 

As  has  been  stated,  there  were  many  individual  cita- 
tions for  bravery  in  the  division,  —  in  fact,  one  of  the 
largest  lists  in  the  American  army,  but  there  were  also 
many  other  acts  of  heroism  which  were  overlooked  in  the 
excitement  of  battle.  Practically  every  man  in  the  organ- 
ization bore  himself  like  a  hero,  and  it  is  related  how, 
during  attacks,  general  prisoners  working  near  the  front 
lines  seized  rifles  from  wounded  or  dead  comrades  and 
fought  on  like  demons. 

An  incident  typical  of  many  heroic  acts  was  that  which 
resulted  in  the  citation  of  the  first  man  awarded  the 
Congressional  Medal  of  Honor,  the  highest  award  in  the 
gift  of  the  United  States.    The  citation  read :  — 

Private  First  Class  George  Dilboy  (deceased).  Company 
H,  103d  Infantry. 

For  conspicuous  gallantry  and  intrepidity  above  and  beyond 
the  call  of  duty  in  action  with  the  enemy  on  July  18,  1918, 
near  Belleau,  France. 

7 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

After  his  platoon  had  gained  its  objective  along  a  railroad 
embankment.  Private  Dilboy,  accompanying  his  platoon  leader 
to  reconnoiter  the  ground  beyond,  was  suddenly  fired  upon  by 
an  enemy  machine  gun  from  100  yards.  From  a  standing 
position  on  the  railroad  track,  fully  exposed  to  view,  he  opened 
fire  at  once,  but,  failing  to  silence  the  gun,  rushed  forward  with 
his  bayonet  fixed,  through  a  wheat  field  towards  the  gun  em- 
placement, falling  within  25  yards  of  the  gun,  with  his  right 
leg  nearly  severed  above  the  knee,  and  with  several  bullet  holes 
in  his  body.  With  undaunted  courage  he  continued  to  fire  into 
the  emplacement  from  a  prone  position,  killing  two  of  the 
enemy  and  dispersing  the  rest  of  the  crew. 

Too  much  cannot  be  said  in  regard  to  the  work  done 
by  the  divisional  chaplains.  Not  only  did  these  men  of 
God  hold  services  whenever  the  opportunity  presented 
itself,  but  their  very  presence  and  cheerful  attitude  did 
much  to  uphold  the  wonderful  spirit  of  the  men.  Fur- 
thermore, a  number  went  "over  the  top"  with  their  boys, 
and  all  were  decorated  for  their  splendid  work  in  tending 
the  wounded  under  fire  and  serving  hot  coffee  and  food 
to  the  men  in  the  front  line. 

They  took  part  in  the  men's  joys  and  shared  in  their 
sorrows,  administered  both  physical  and  spiritual  aid, 
and  wherever  they  might  be  were  loved  and  revered  as 
true  servants  of  Christianity, 

One  of  them.  Chaplain  Danker  of  Worcester,  made 
*'the  great  sacrifice,"  being  killed  by  shell  fire,  and  a 
number  of  others  were  wounded  while  ministering  to  the 
wounded. 

The  division  first  went  into  line  on  February  6,  1918, 
on  the  Chemin  des  Dames  sector,  and  was  withdrawn  on 
March  21.  In  this  connection  it  may  be  said  that  dates 
of  entry  and  dates  of  withdrawal  are  the  dates  on  which 
the  command  passed  to  or  from  the  Twenty-sixth  Divi- 

8 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

sion.  These  dates,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  do  not  in  reality 
show  the  exact  time  which  all  units  served  in  line.  There 
were  several  instances  where  regiments  and  brigades 
entered  the  line  several  days  in  advance  of  the  passing  of 
command  to  the  division. 

On  April  3  tlie  division  moved  into  La  Reine  and  Boucq 
sector,  north  of  Toul,  and  stayed  there  until  June  28.  On 
July  10  the  Pas  Fini  sector  at  Chateau-Thierry  was  entered, 
and  the  division  was  withdrawn  on  July  25.  September 
8  marked  the  entrance  of  the  organization  into  the  St. 
Mihiel  salient,  where  it  fought  until  October  8,  and  on 
October  18  it  moved  into  the  line  north  of  Verdun,  being 
withdrawn  November  14,  three  days  after  the  signing  of 
the  armistice. 

During  these  nine  months'  service  the  division  spent 
only  ten  days  in  a  rest  area,  just  prior  to  the  battle  of  St. 
Mihiel,  the  rest  of  the  time  being  occupied  in  moving 
from  one  sector  to  another,  or  in  support  position  await- 
ing entry  into  line. 

Important  features  of  the  line  in  the  several  sectors 
held  by  the  division  were  in  the  — 

Chemin  des  Dames:  A,  the  Chemin  des  Dames;  B, 
Fort  de  Malmaison;  C,  Chavignon  Valley;  D,  Laffaux 
Valley;  E,  Pinon  V/oods;  F,  Cheval  Mort  Hill;  G,  Aisne 
River;  H,  Rouge  Maison;  I,  Rochefort. 

La  Reine  and  Boucq:  A,  Mont  Sec;  B,  Bois  Brule 
(Apremont  Woods);  C,  Seicheprey  (Remiere  Woods  and 
Jury  Woods);  D,  Xivray-Marvoisin;  E,  Dead  Man's 
Curve. 

Chateau-Thierry:  A,  Bois  Belleau;  B,  Hill  190;  C, 
Bouresches  railway  station;  D,  Trugny  Woods;  E,  Epi- 
eds;  F,  Vesle  River  (Artillery  Brigade);   G,  Vaux. 

St.  Miliiel:  A,  Les  Eparges;  B,  Vigneulles;  C,  Hatton 
Chatel;   D,  Demmartin;   E,  Bois  de  St.  Remy. 


THE   YANKEE  DIVISION 

Argonne-Meuse:  A,  Bois  Bellieu;  B,  Hill  360;  C, 
Bois  d'Omiont;  D,  Bois  d'Haumont;  E,  Bois  d'Etrayes; 
F,  Les  Houppy  Bois;  G,  La  Wavrille;  H,  Bois  de  Ville 
devant  Chauinont;  I,  Cote  de  Taloii. 

Despite  the  fact  that  this  division  was  composed  of 
National  Guard  troops,  with  practically  no  previous  expe- 
rience, and  lacking  the  lengthy  training  deemed  so  neces- 
sary by  regular  army  officers,  the  Twenty-sixth  went 
through  the  terrific  struggle  with  no  lowering  of  its  mag- 
nificent morale.  Though  suffering  the  most  terrible  pun- 
ishment in  the  various  engagements,  the  Twenty-sixth 
came  through  with  flying  colors,  and  at  the  end  it  might 
well  have  been  said,  as  it  was  of  Napoleon's  famous  Old 
Guard,  "The  division  dies,  but  never  retreats." 


10 


CHAPTER   I 
Organization 

The  history  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  is  practically 
the  history  of  the  accomplishments  of  one  man,  Clarence 
R.  Edwards,  Major-General,  U.  S.  A. 

He  organized  the  division,  took  it  to  France,  and  there 
by  personal  contact  built  up  the  wonderful  morale  which 
he  had  no  time  to  secure  by  prolonged  training. 

A  clear-visioned  fighter  of  the  old  school,  with  a  healthy 
contempt  for  theory  and  army  red  tape,  he  did  not  know 
the  meaning  of  the  word  "can't."  General  Edwards  led 
his  division  from  one  brilliant  success  to  another,  con- 
stantly endearing  himself  more  and  more  to  his  men. 
The  *'01d  Man,"  as  he  was  called,  was  regarded  with 
almost  fanatical  affection  and  veneration. 

When  General  Edwards  was  relieved  from  command  on 
October  25  and  returned  to  the  United  States,  the  men 
of  the  Twenty-sixth  were  stunned,  and  tears  came  to  the 
eyes  of  many  war-worn  veterans.  Although  succeeded  by 
Brigadier-General  Frank  E.  Bamford,  who  in  turn  on 
November  19  was  relieved  by  Major-General  Harry  C. 
Hale,  General  Edwards  continued  to  be  "Our  General" 
to  the  men  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division.  They  wrote 
letters  to  their  parents,  urging  them  to  go  and  hear  the 
speeches  being  made  by  General  Edwards,  who  had 
assumed,  for  the  second  time,  command  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  the  Northeast,  with  headquarters  in  Boston. 
And  those  of  the  men  who  were  already  at  home,  having 
been  discharged  after  recovering  from  wounds,  never 
failed  to  turn  out  to  listen  once  more  to  the  voice  of  their 
beloved  commander. 

11 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

General  Edwards  acquired  his  first  experience  as  a 
fighter  in  the  PhiHppines,  and  later  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  Panama  Canal  Zone.  There  he  acquired 
much  experience  in  administration,  and  expended  large 
sums  of  money  in  the  bettennent  of  conditions. 

Wlien  the  Department  of  the  Northeast  was  organized, 
General  Edwards  was  placed  in  command.  He  came  to 
Boston  gladly,  as  both  he  and  Mrs.  Edwards  had  rela- 
tives in  this  city,  as  well  as  many  friends. 

With  other  far-sighted  men  General  Edwards  believed 
that  the  United  States  would  be  drawn  into  the  war.  As 
a  result  of  this  belief  he  began  a  study  of  the  New  Eng- 
land National  Guard  as  soon  as  his  new  command  was 
smoothly  under  way. 

He  found  the  National  Guard,  on  the  whole,  to  be  in 
good  shape,  having  been  well  equipped  by  the  various 
States.  The  Guard  obtained  valuable  experience  on  the 
Mexican  Border  in  1916,  although  there  were  some  inci- 
dents connected  with  that  affair  which  were  not  of  much 
credit  to  any  one. 

When  the  time  came  for  this  country  to  take  part  in 
the  mammoth  struggle  overseas,  General  Edwards  was 
thoroughly  familiar  with  the  material  of  which  the  heroic 
Yankee  Division  was  to  be  composed. 

On  August  14,  1917,  he  received  a  letter  from  the  Adju- 
tant-General's office,  dated  the  previous  day,  containing 
authority  to  organize  a  full  division  from  National  Guard 
troops,  under  the  new  tables  of  organization  which  had 
just  been  adopted  by  the  War  Department.  It  was 
decided  that  this  division  was  to  be  known  as  the  Twenty- 
sixth  Division  of  the  National  Army,  and  "National 
Guard"  was  to  be  forgotten. 

This  letter  was  delivered  to  General  Edwards  by  the 
then  Major  George  H.  Shelton,  General  Staff,  who  later 

12 


Brigadier-General  Charles  H.  Cole 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

became  a  brigadier-general.  Shelton  also  brought  ad- 
vance copies  of  the  new  tables  of  organization,  which 
showed  radical  changes  in  the  make-up  and  personnel  of 
military  units.  These  copies  were  secured  nine  days  in 
advance  of  their  issue  by  the  War  Department,  and  as  a 
result  of  this  fact  the  general  was  enabled  to  speed  up  the 
organization  of  the  division  and  get  the  jump  on  other 
organizations. 

The  War  Department  instructions  allowed  considerable 
leeway  in  working  out  the  reorganization  of  the  guard 
outfits,  and  General  Edwards  took  advantage  of  this 
fact.  It  was  apparent,  from  his  study  of  the  local  con- 
ditions, that  the  War  Department  plan  did  not  meet 
them  fully,  so  he  went  ahead  and  worked  out  a  different 
combination. 

Establishing  his  headquarters  at  No.  25  Huntington 
Avenue,  General  Edwards  sent  for  all  organization  com- 
manders affected,  who  could  be  conveniently  brought  to 
Boston.  He  explained  the  situation  to  them  in  confi- 
dence, and  then  outlined  the  plans  he  proposed  to  follow 
to  meet  it,  together  with  the  military  emergency  which 
rendered  reorganization  necessary.  Among  these  officers 
were  Colonels  George  S.  Simonds,  J.  W.  Beacham,  H.  P. 
Hobbs,  L.  W.  Cass  and  C.  M.  Dowell,  all  regulars,  who 
had  been  assigned  from  Washington. 

In  a  similar  way,  either  in  person,  by  a  staff  officer  or 
by  letter.  General  Edwards  informed  all  of  the  Governors 
of  the  New  England  States  in  confidence  of  the  situation 
and  the  plans  evolved  to  meet  it.  Full  co-operation  was 
promised  and  given,  and  it  proved  to  be  complete,  intel- 
ligent and  helpful. 

As  was  expected,  some  opposition  arose  to  the  breaking 
up  of  established  National  Guard  organizations,  and  to 
the  transfers  from  one  organization  to  another  as  required 

13 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

to  meet  the  conditions  of  the  problem.  Some  of  this 
opposition  was  direct,  some  of  it  was  indirect,  through 
members  of  Congress  and  State  officers,  and  through 
appeals  to  the  War  Department.  Much  of  it  was  based 
on  ignorance,  and  some  of  it  upon  misunderstanding  of 
the  facts  of  the  case.  Wherever  it  was  possible  to  explain 
the  matter  in  detail  to  those  interested  opposition  was 
rapidly  dissipated. 

During  the  time  of  organization  General  Edwards, 
Major  (then  Captain)  John  W.  Hyatt,  his  aide,  Major 
Shelton  and  others  sat  up  seventy-two  hours  at  a  stretch, 
at  times,  working  out  details.  There  were  many  obstacles, 
some  of  them  apparently  insurmountable,  but  the  opti- 
mism and  initiative  of  General  Edwards,  which,  through 
his  remarkable  personality,  he  was  able  to  transmit  to 
his  staff,  overcame  them. 

As  has  been  stated,  the  National  Guard  was  fortunately 
well  equipped  with  motor  transport,  animal  transport, 
combat  wagons  and  other  material.  What  was  needed  in 
the  way  of  clothing  and  other  supplies  was  on  hand, 
owing  to  the  aforementioned  foresight  of  the  general. 

When  he  was  commander  of  the  Northeastern  Depart- 
ment, Colonel  Williamson,  the  depot  quartermaster,  had 
presented  a  requisition  for  supplies.  These  called  for 
enough  for  about  50,000  men  only.  General  Edwards 
immediately  told  him  to  make  it  a  million,  but  William- 
son demurred,  claiming  that  he  had  no  authority,  where- 
upon General  Edwards  ordered  him  to  do  it,  and  the 
matter  was  settled. 

And  so  the  work  of  reorganization  went  on.  General 
Edwards  brought  a  keen,  trained  mind  to  the  task,  and 
displayed  none  of  the  usual  attitude  of  the  Regular  Army 
officer  toward  National  Guard  organizations.  His  spirit 
of  frank,   manly  good   fellowship  and  consideration  for 

14 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

others  in  a  short  time  made  him  the  idol  of  all  his  oflScers, 
and  aided  him  greatly  in  securing  results. 

Within  a  very  few  days  a  plan  of  organization  was 
worked  out  and  the  division  formed.  Major  Shelton  was 
promoted  to  lieutenant-colonel  and  made  chief  of  staff. 
The  General's  aides  included  Captain  Hyatt,  Captain 
A.  L.  Pendleton  and  Captain  "Nat"  Simpkins  of  Boston, 
who  later  died  in  France,  and  who  was  mourned  by  the 
commanding  officer  as  he  would  have  mourned  a  son. 
Colonel  Simonds  was  made  divisional  adjutant  and 
Colonel  Cass  assistant  adjutant. 

Division  headquarters  was  made  up  of  officers  assigned 
by  the  War  Department  and  officers  and  enlisted  men 
transferred  from  the  division  at  large  and  by  enlistment. 
Troop  B  of  the  old  Massachusetts  Squadron  of  Cavalry 
became  the  Headquarters  Troop,  commanded  by  Captain 
Oliver  Wolcott. 

The  next  unit  to  be  organized  was  the  101st  Machine 
Gun  Battalion,  which  was  composed  of  the  1st  Con- 
necticut Squadron  of  Cavalry,  with  additional  strength 
from  the  1st  Vennont  Infantry.  This  outfit  was  com- 
manded by  Major  James  L.  Howard  of  Hartford,  Ct., 
an  old  National  Guard  officer.  The  battalion  was  en- 
camped at  Niantic,  Ct. 

There  were  two  infantry  brigades,  the  Fifty-first  and 
Fifty-second,  and  the  Fifty-first  Artillery  Brigade. 

Brigadier-General  Peter  E.  Traub  was  given  command 
of  the  Fifty-first  Infantry  Brigade,  and  Brigadier-General 
Charles  H.  Cole,  former  Boston  fire  commissioner,  of  the 
Fifty-second.  General  Cole,  having  previous  experience 
as  a  National  Guard  officer,  had  enlisted  as  a  private 
when  the  United  States  entered  the  war,  and  his  promo- 
tion was  rapid. 

The  artillery  brigade   was   commanded  by   Brigadier- 

15 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

General  William  L,  Lassiter,  a  Regular  Army  officer,  as 
was  General  Traub. 

The  Fifty-first  Infantry  Brigade  was  largely  made  up 
of  Boston  and  other  eastern  Massachusetts  troops,  and 
for  that  reason  was  most  popular  locally.  It  consisted 
of  the  101st  and  102d  Infantry  and  the  102d  Machine 
Gun  Battalion. 

Men  from  the  famous  "Fighting  9th"  Massachusetts, 
with  the  5th  and  a  part  of  the  6th,  made  up  the  101st, 
and  Colonel  Edward  L.  Logan,  who  had  led  the  9th  on 
the  Mexican  Border,  was  placed  in  command.  Colonel 
Logan  was  judge  of  the  South  Boston  Police  Court,  and 
had  been  an  officer  of  the  9th  for  years.  His  lieutenant- 
colonel  was  John  H.  Dunn,  Boston  street  commissioner, 
who  enlisted  in  the  9th  in  1888,  and  saw  service  in  the 
Spanish -American  war. 

iinother  Boston  city  official  in  the  regiment  was  Major 
William  J.  Casey,  commanding  the  2d  Battalion  and 
former  superintendent  of  the  city  printing  plant,  who, 
like  Dunn,  first  enlisted  in  the  9th  in  1888,  and  was  a 
veteran  of  the  Spanish  war.  Lieutenant  William  L. 
Drohan  was  clerk  of  Colonel  Logan's  court  in  South 
Boston. 

Owing  to  an  intense  spirit  of  pride  in  their  respective 
organizations,  which  had  been  manifested  by  the  men  of 
both  regiments  time  and  again  on  the  Border,  there  was 
some  confusion  at  first  when  the  reorganization  went  into 
effect. 

This  was  straightened  out  within  a  short  time,  however, 
unlike  similar  incidents  in  certain  other  divisions. 

The  102d  Infantry  was  a  combination  of  the  2d  Con- 
necticut, with  additional  strength  from  the  1st  Con- 
necticut, 1st  Vermont  and  6th  Massachusetts.  Colonel 
Ernest  S.  Isbell  was  made  regimental  commander. 

16 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

The  102d  Machine  Gun  BattaHon  was  the  old  Massa- 
chusetts Squadron  of  Cavahy,  less  Troop  B,  with  addi- 
tional strength  from  the  1st  Vermont  Infantry.  Major 
John  Perrins,  Jr.,  was  given  command  of  the  battalion. 

The  Fifty-second  Infantry  Brigade  was  made  up  of 
the  103d  and  104th  Infantry  and  the  103d  Machine  Gun 
Battalion.  The  2d  Maine  Infantry,  with  additional 
strength  from  the  1st  New  Hampshire,  made  up  the  103d. 
The  104th  Infantry  was  composed  of  the  2d  Massachu- 
setts, with  additional  strength  from  the  6th  and  8th 
Massachusetts. 

Colonel  Frank  H.  Hume  was  made  commander  of  the 
103d  Infantry,  and  Colonel  William  C.  Hayes  of  Spring- 
field assumed  command  of  the  104th. 

The  Rhode  Island  Squadron  of  Cavalry,  less  Troops 
B  and  M,  and  the  New  Hampshire  Machine  Gun  Troop, 
with  additional  strength  from  the  1st  Vermont  Infantry, 
went  to  make  up  the  103d  Machine  Gun  Battalion  of 
which  Major  Walter  G.  Gatchell  was  made  commanding 
officer. 

With  these  units  organized,  the  next  task  was  the 
formation  of  the  Fifty-first  Field  Artillery  Brigade.  It  was 
decided  to  make  it  up  with  the  101st,  102d  and  103d 
Field  Artillery,  the  latter  a  regiment  of  "heavies,"  and 
the  101st  Trench  Mortar  Battery. 

The  1st  Massachusetts  Field  Artillery,  with  additional 
strength  from  the  New  England  Coast  Artillery,  composed 
the  101st  Field  Artillery,  and  Colonel  John  H.  Sherburne 
became  regimental  commander. 

The  2d  Massachusetts  Field  Artillery,  helped  out  by  the 
New  England  Coast  Artillery,  made  up  the  102d,  Colonel 
M.  E.  Locke,  commanding,  with  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Thorndike  D.  Howe  second  in  command. 

For  the  heavy  regiment  were  taken  Batteries  A  of  New 

17 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Hampshire,  E  and  F  of  Connecticut,  and  1st  Battalion 
Rhode  Island  Field  Artillery,  with  additional  strength 
from  headquarters  and  supply  companies,  composite 
cavalry  regiment,  Troop  M,  Rhode  Island  Squadron  of 
Cavalry  and  part  of  the  New  England  Coast  Artillery. 
The  regimental  commander  was  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Richard  Hale. 

The  trench  mortar  battery  was  made  up  of  the  1st 
Maine  Heavy  Field  Artillery.  This  battery  was  com- 
manded by  Captain  Roger  A.  Greene. 

It  then  became  necessary  to  secure  an  engineer  regi- 
ment, and  for  this  purpose  the  1st  Massachusetts  Engi- 
neers were  at  hand.  Originally  the  old  First  Corps  of 
Cadets,  Boston's  crack  National  Guard  organization, 
the  outfit  had  changed  to  an  engineer  regiment  when  it 
was  learned  that  there  would  be  no  chance  for  it  to  get 
into  action  in  any  other  way.  With  additional  strength 
from  the  1st  Maine  Heavy  Field  Artillery  and  the  New 
England  Coast  Artillery,  the  organization  became  the 
101st  Engineers,  commanded  by  Colonel  George  W. 
Bunnell.  The  Massachusetts  Field  Signal  Battalion  was 
taken  over  complete  as  the  101st  Field  Signal  Battalion 
under  Major  Harry  G.  Chase. 

Then  came  the  101st  Train  Headquarters  and  Military 
Police,  commanded  by  Colonel  Warren  E.  Sweetser, 
formerly  of  the  2d  Massachusetts;  the  101st  Ammunition 
Train,  composed  of  the  1st  Vermont  Infantry  and  local 
coast  artillery,  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  William 
J.  Keville  of  the  old  8th  Massachusetts;  the  101st  Supply 
Train,  from  Troop  B,  Rhode  Island  Squadron  of  Cavalry, 
with  additional  strength  from  the  8th  Massachusetts, 
and  commanded  by  Captain  Davis  G.  Arnold;  the  101st 
Engineer  Train,  from  the  6th  Massachusetts,  First 
Lieutenant   S.   R.    Waller,    commanding,   and   the    101st 

18 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Sanitary  Train,  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  L.  Bevans,  com- 
manding. This  sanitary  train  was  composed  of  Ambu- 
lance Companies  Nos.  1,  2,  3  and  4,  and  Field  Hospitals 
Nos.  1,  2,  3  and  4.  The  1st  and  2d  Massachusetts  Ambu- 
lance Companies  made  up  Ambulance  Companies  Nos. 
1  and  2;  the  First  Connecticut  Ambulance  Company 
became  Ambulance  Company  No.  3,  and  the  First  Rhode 
Island  Ambulance  Company  became  Ambulance  Com- 
pany No.  4. 

In  the  same  way  the  1st  and  2d  Massachusetts  Field 
Hospitals  became  Field  Hospitals  Nos.  1  and  2;  the  First 
Connecticut  became  No.  3,  and  the  First  New  Hampshire 
became  Field  Hospital  No.  4.  A  mobile  ordnance  repair 
shop  was  formed  by  transfers  from  the  division  at  large. 

All  the  remaining  troops  under  General  Edwards' 
jurisdiction  were  assigned  to  the  Fifty -first  Depot  Brigade, 
consisting  of  35  officers  and  596  enlisted  men  from  the 
1st  New  Hampshire  Infantry;  29  officers  and  284  enlisted 
men  from  the  1st  Vermont  Infantry;  37  officers  and  503 
enlisted  men  from  the  5th  Massachusetts  Infantry;  18 
officers  and  360  enlisted  men  from  the  6th  Massachusetts 
Infantry;  28  officers  and  406  enlisted  men  from  the  8th 
Massachusetts  Infantry;  20  officers  and  365  enlisted 
men  from  the  1st  Connecticut  Infantry;  40  officers  and 
776  enlisted  men  from  the  1st  Maine  Field  Artillery;  3 
officers  and  62  enlisted  men  from  Company  B,  New 
Hampshire  Signal  Troops;  3  officers  and  64  enlisted  men 
from  Company  A,  Connecticut  Signal  Troops;  1  officer 
and  109  enlisted  men  from  the  first  separate  company, 
Connecticut  infantry;  and  3  officers  and  149  enlisted  men 
from  the  first  separate  company  of  Massachusetts  in- 
fantry. This  was  a  total  of  217  officers  and  3,674  enlisted 
men. 

Following  are  copies  of  the  General  Orders  issued  by 

19 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

General   Edwards   officially   organizing   the   division   on 
August  22,  1917:  — 

Headquarters  Twenty-sixth  Division, 
Boston,  Mass.,  August  22,  1917. 

General  Orders,1 
No.  2.  J 

1.  In  compliance  with  telegraphic  authority  of  the  War 
Department  dated  August  13,  1917,  and  in  accordance  with 
confidential  tables  of  organization  published  by  the  War  De- 
partment, the  Twenty-sixth  Division  is  hereby  organized  from 
the  units  of  the  New  England  National  Guard,  as  follows :  — 

Divisional  Headquarters  Troop,  Captain  Oliver  Wolcott,  com- 
manding. 

101st  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  Major  James  L.  Howard,  com- 
manding. 

Fifty-first  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Peter  E.  Traub,  commanding; 
101st  Infantry,  Colonel  E.  L.  Logan,  commanding;  102d  Infantry, 
Colonel  E.  S.  Isbell,  commanding;  102d  Machine  Gun  Battalion, 
Major  John  Perrins,  Jr.,  commanding. 

Fifty-second  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  Charles  H.  Cole,  com- 
manding; 103d  Infantry,  Colonel  F.  H.  Hume,  commanding;  104th 
Infantry,  Colonel  William  C.  Hayes,  commanding;  103d  Machine 
Gun  Battalion,  Major  W.  G.  Gatchell,  commanding. 

Fifty-first  Field  Artillery  Brigade,  Brigadier-General  W.  Lassier, 
commanding;  101st  Field  Artillery,  Colonel  J.  H.  Sherburne,  com- 
manding; 102d  Field  Artillery,  Lieutenant-Colonel  T.  D.  Howe, 
commanding;  103d  Field  Artillery,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Richard 
Hale,  commanding;  trench  mortar  battery.  Captain  Roger  A. 
Greene,  commanding. 

Engineer  Regiment,  Twenty-sixth  Division,  Colonel  George  W. 
Bunnell,  commanding. 

Field  Signal  Battalion,  Twenty-sixth  Division,  Major  Harry  G. 
Chase,  commanding. 

Headquarters  Train  and  Military  Police,  Colonel  W.  E.  Sweetser, 
commanding. 

Ammunition  Train  (to  be  designated),  commanding. 

Supply  Train,  Captain  Davis  G.  Arnold,  commanding. 

Engineer  Train,  First  Lieutenant  S.  R,  Waller,  commanding. 

20 


Bachrach 


Major-General  Peter  E.  Traub 


Company   D,    104th,    Yankee   Division,  Getting  into  Shape  for  the 
Hardships  of  Overseas'  Service 


Troops  leaving  for  Debarkation  Overseas 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

Sanitary  Train,  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  L.  Bevans,  commanding; 
Ambulance  Company  No.  1,  Ambulance  Company  No.  2,  Ambulance 
Company  No.  3,  Ambulance  Company  No.  4,  Field  Hospital  No.  1, 
Field  Hospital  No.  2,  Field  Hospital  No.  3,  Field  Hospital  No.  4. 

2.  The  transfers  and  assignment  of  commissioned  and  en- 
listed personnel  to  accomplish  the  organization  of  the  new  units 
in  accordance  with  the  War  Department  tables  of  organization 
will  be  as  set  forth  in  detail  in  letters  of  instruction  from  the 
chief  of  staff  to  organization  commanders  concerned. 
By  command  of  Major-General  Edwards, 

George  H.  Shelton, 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  General  Staff, 

Chief  of  Staff. 
Official : 

George  S.  Simonds, 

Lieutenant-Colonel,  Infantry,  N.  A., 

Adjutant. 

Headquaeters  Twenty-sixth  Division, 
Boston,  Mass.,  August  30,  1917. 

General  OrdersA 
No.  3.  j 

1.  In  accordance  with  instructions  from  the  War  Depart- 
ment dated  August  13,  1917,  Brigadier-General  E.  Leroy 
Sweetser,  National  Army,  is  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
depot  brigade  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division. 

2.  The  following  troops  are  assigned  to  the  depot  brigade 
of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division :  — 

1st  Regiment,  New  Hampshire  Infantry,  National  Guard. 
1st  Regiment,  Vermont  Infantry,  National  Guard, 
5th  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Infantry,  National  Guard. 
6th  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Infantry,  National  Guard. 
8th  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Infantry,  National  Guard. 
1st  Regiment,  Connecticut  Infantry,  National  Guard. 
1st  Regiment,  Maine  Field  Artillery  (Heavy),  National  Guard. 
Company  B,  New  Hampshire  Signal  Corps,  National  Guard. 
Company  A,  Connecticut  Signal  Corps,  National  Guard. 

21 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

And  all  other  officers  and  enlisted  men  of  the  National  Guard  of  the 
New  England  States  in  active  service,  exclusive  of  those  belonging  to 
or  on  duty  with  the  coast  artillery  or  assigned  to  duty  with  the  active 
organizations  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division. 

By  command  of  Major-General  Edwards, 

George  H.  Shelton, 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  General  Staff, 

Chief  of  Staff. 
Official: 

Horace  P.  Hobbs, 

Lieutenant-Colonel,  Infantry,  N.  A., 

Acting  Adjutant. 


22 


CHAPTER   II 
Expands  All  United  States  Units 

In  ordering  the  organization  of  the  division,  the  War 
Department  had  asked  General  Edwards  if  he  could  ship 
part  of  it  the  1st  of  September  and  part  the  15th^  He 
replied  that  he  could  ship  all  by  the  1st  of  September. 
They  again  wired  asking,  "Are  you  reasonably  sure?" 
to  which  the  general  replied,  "I  am  not  reasonably  sure; 
I  am  certain." 

Prior  to  this  war  the  largest  regiment  in  American 
service  contained  2,000  men,  which  was  600  larger  than 
anything  we  had  .had  in  actual  practice.  The  new  organ- 
ization required  1,000  men  in  every  battalion,  and  very 
nearly  1,000  men  in  the  headquarters,  machine  gun  and 
supply  companies,  making  little  less  than  4,000  men  in 
a  regmient.  Those  4,000  men  per  regiment  meant  a 
bigger  regiment,  of  greater  strength,  than  the  largest 
brigade  United  States  Army  officers  had  ever  thought  of. 
The  brigade  was  some  7,800  men,  and  the  division  about 
32,000,  greater  than  an  army  corps  in  the  civil  war. 

The  command  was  virtually  organized  in  forty-eight 
hours,  day  and  night  work,  and  this  accomplishment  was 
largely  due  to  the  co-operation  furnished  by  the  press  of 
Boston  and  New  England.  In  the  words  of  General 
Edwards,  "everybody  played  the  game."  After  taking 
100  integral  numbers  for  what  the  regular  army  might 
expand  in,  it  took  25  numbers  of  the  Regular  Army,  and, 
therefore,  the  division  became  the  Twenty-sixth. 

General  Edwards  found  it  necessary  to  take  a  large 
number  of  coast  artillerymen,  and  for  this  he  was  criti- 

23 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

cised  by  the  War  Department.  He  said  he  was  very 
sorry,  but  they  had  sailed,  whereupon  the  War  Depart- 
ment replied:  "In  the  next  war  don't  you  dare  do  it 
again."  He  also  took  some  draft  men  from  Camp 
Devens. 

The  division  was  not  concentrated  at  any  one  point, 
and  as  a  matter  of  fact  never  came  together  as  a  whole 
unit  until  it  entered  the  front  line  in  France.  Division 
headquarters,  with  the  Headquarters  Troop  and  101st 
Field  Signal  Battalion,  as  well  as  the  101st  Engineers, 
were  at  Boston.  Framingham  was  headquarters  of  the 
Fifty -first  Infantry  Brigade,  the  101st  Infantry  and  the 
102d  Machine  Gun  Battalion.  The  102d  Infantry  was 
at  New  Haven,  Ct.,  the  103d  Machine  Gun  Battalion 
was  at  Quonset  Point,  R.  I.,  the  101st  Machine  Gun  Bat- 
talion at  Niantic,  Ct.,  while  the  whole  of  the  Fifty-sec- 
ond Infantry  Brigade  was  at  Westfield,  Mass.,  and  the 
field  artillery  at  Boxford. 

General  Edwards  made  almost  daily  inspections  of  the 
camps,  and  on  every  occasion  exhorted  the  men  to  pull 
together.  He  inspired  the  officers  with  his  spirit,  and 
they  made  frequent  speeches  to  the  men,  dwelling  on  the 
value  of  team  work  and  discipline. 

As  soon  as  the  division  was  fonned,  General  Edwards 
notified  the  War  Department,  and  Camp  Greene,  N.  C, 
was  specified  as  a  concentration  point.  A  sergeant  and 
ten  men  were  sent  down  to  Camp  Greene  to  locate  divi- 
sional headquarters. 

In  the  meantime  the  General,  who  overlooked  nothing, 
had  sent  an  officer  to  Hoboken  to  see  what  could  be  done 
in  the  way  of  securing  transports.  This  officer  reported 
that  there  were  no  boats  available,  and  there  would  be 
none  in  the  near  future,  as  it  was  the  intention  of  the 
War   Department  to   send   over   first   the  Forty-second 

24 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

(Rainbow)  Division,  it  being  made  up  of  men  from  a  large 
number  of  Stiites,  and  being  considered  representative. 

General  Edwards  refused  to  be  discouraged  by  this 
report,  and  called  into  conference  one  of  his  aides,  Cap- 
tain A.  L.  Pendleton,  a  young  Regular  Army  officer  with 
the  reputation  of  doing  things,  and  who  later  became  a 
lieutenant-colonel.  Here  follows  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting stories  in  the  history  of  the  division.  As  a  result 
of  the  initiative  and  enterprise  of  General  Edwards  and 
Captain  Pendleton,  the  division  was  enabled  to  get 
away  before  the  Forty-second,  and  was,  therefore,  the 
first  full  American  division  to  reach  France,  Part  of  the 
First  Division  had  gone  over  with  General  Pershing,  but 
several  units  were  absent. 

Captain  Pendleton  arrived  at  Hoboken  with  personal 
letters  of  introduction  to  General  Shanks,  commanding 
the  port,  and  Colonel  Carson,  in  charge  of  assignments 
of  troops  to  ships.  Captain  Pendleton  was  assured  by 
the  two  officers  that  no  boats  would  be  available  in  the 
near  future,  due  to  the  fact  that  all  coming  in  were  to  be 
reserved  for  the  use  of  the  Regular  Army  and  special 
units  of  the  Forty-second  Division. 

Captain  Pendleton  patiently  explained  that  the  Twenty- 
sixth  was  fully  organized  and  ready  to  move,  which,  he 
said,  he  did  not  think  was  true  of  others.  He  was  again 
assured  that  the  War  Department  had  established  these 
priorities  and  they  would  have  to  stand. 

Undismayed  by  these  statements,  the  young  aide  went 
forth  to  see  what  might  be  done.  He  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Major  Hambleton,  adjutant  to  General  Shanks, 
and  the  two  soon  became  great  friends.  Each  found 
much  to  admire  in  the  other. 

Pendleton  spent  much  time  with  the  major  and  im- 
pressed on  him  the  fact  that  the  Twenty-sixth  Division 

25 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 

was  ready  to  move  and  that  transports  must  be  secured 
at  all  costs. 

Major  Hambleton  confidentially  kept  the  captain 
posted  on  what  boats  would  be  available  in  the  near 
future,  and  as  there  were  no  representatives  from  other 
units  on  the  ground,  the  Twenty-sixth  benefited. 

One  day  Captain  Pendleton  was  suddenly  notified  that 
four  boats  would  be  available  in  three  days,  the  "Tena- 
dores,"  "Pastores,"  "Mallory"  and  "Lenape."  He  was 
further  advised  that  the  units  for  which  they  were  intended 
were  not  ready  to  take  them,  and  was  asked  if  he  could 
use  them  for  the  Twenty-sixth. 

He  replied  that  he  could  use  all  he  could  get  even  on 
short  notice.  He  said  that  the  division  was  ready  to  go 
to  France  and  the  men  wanted  to  get  away. 

Captain  Pendleton  called  General  Edwards  on  the 
telephone  and  told  him  that  he  could  secure  four  boats. 
He  asked  the  General  to  please  have  the  chief  of  staff 
advise  what  units  were  to  go  first.  In  half  an  hour  the 
chief  of  staff  called  up  and  gave  him  the  assignments, 
which  he  handed  to  Colonel  Carson.  Colonel  Carson 
was  surprised  as  well  as  gratified  at  the  quick  action. 

The  unit  which  had  the  honor  of  being  the  first  to  go 
was  the  101st  Infantry,  "Boston's  Own,"  regiment. 

Major  George  C.  Cole  of  the  Division  Quartermaster 
Staff,  who  was  with  Captain  Pendleton,  got  in  touch 
with  representatives  of  the  American  Railway  Associa- 
tion at  Hoboken,  and  in  conference  arranged  for  the 
reception  of  the  troops  at  the  135th  Street  station.  He 
also  arranged  for  the  ferrying  of  troops  and  baggage 
around  to  the  Hoboken  docks.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Joseph 
W.  Beacham,  Jr.,  divisional  quartennaster,  did  excellent 
work  at  the  Boston  end,  arranging  the  movement  of 
troops  here. 

26 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

It  had  been  announced  through  the  press  that  the 
previous  Sunday  would  be  "visitors'  day."  On  that 
occasion  thousands  of  relatives  and  friends  of  the  soldiers 
flocked  to  the  different  camps,  many  of  them  feeling  that 
this  would  be  the  last  opportunity  they  would  have  to 
see  their  loved  ones. 

At  Framingham  there  was  an  address  by  Governor 
McCall  in  the  name  of  Massachusetts,  and  Cardinal 
O'Connell  gave  the  men  his  blessing.  At  Westfield  there 
was  a  parade,  and  it  was  estimated  that  100,000  civilians 
were  present,  and  like  conditions  prevailed  at  Boxford 
and  other  camps. 

At  noon  of  September  6  Colonel  Logan  of  the  101st 
issued  the  order  turning  the  men  out  in  full  marching 
equipment,  ready  to  entrain. 

Starting  at  midnight  troop  trains  in  various  sections 
began  rolling  into  New  York.  The  men  got  off  the  trains 
at  the  135th  Street  station  and  took  the  freight  out  of  the 
baggage  cars.  They  loaded  it  on  lighters  and  then  got 
aboard  ferries,  which  moved  them  around  to  the  Hoboken 
docks. 

Here,  with  only  a  few  devoted  friends  present,  including 
Boston  officials,  they  were  assigned  to  space  aboard  the 
transports,  and  in  a  short  time  were  underway  with  no 
one  in  New  York  av\^are  of  what  was  happening. 

The  farewell  to  the  101st  was  brief,  but  the  men  carried 
the  remembrance  of  it  with  them  for  many  a  day.  Among 
those  who  saw  the  troops  off  were  the  late  Postmaster 
William  F.  Murray,  Surveyor  of  the  Port  of  Boston 
Joseph  A.  Maynard,  Colonel  Logan's  brother  Malcolm, 
Congressman  James  A.  Gallivan,  Congressman  John  F. 
Fitzgerald,  Willard  R.  Gallagher  and  a  number  of  others. 

This  devoted  little  party  embarked  in  a  tug,  and  as 
the  ships  pulled  out  into   the  bay,   steamed  dow^i  the 

27 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

harbor  with  Fitzgerald  singing  "Sweet  AdeHne."  The 
tug  stayed  with  the  transports  until  the  Statue  of  Liberty 
was  passed,  and  the  troops  said  farewell  to  home  and 
friends. 

The  101st  Infantry  got  away  first,  while  other  transports 
carried  Major  William  N.  Tenney's  Field  Hospital  No.  1, 
Major  Charles  F.  Mains'  Ambulance  Company  No.  1, 
and  Colonel  John  H,  Sherburne's  101st  Field  Artillery. 

Outside  the  boats  joined  other  transports,  and  the 
whole  were  later  picked  up  by  a  convoy  and  escorted 
across  the  submarine-infested  ocean. 

Colonel  Carson  was  so  pleased  at  the  manner  in  which 
the  situation  was  handled  that  he  was  disposed  to  give 
the  Twenty-sixth  Division  all  the  transports  coming  in. 
He  hesitated,  however,  because  of  priorities  of  other  units. 

After  the  departure  of  the  first  ships.  Captain  Pendle- 
ton returned  to  Boston  for  a  conference  with  General 
Edwards  and  the  chief  of  staff.  He  said  he  could  get  the 
boats  as  soon  as  they  were  available,  and  only  wanted 
a  list  of  divisional  units  showing  the  sequence  in  which 
it  was  desired  they  depart.  He  also  asked  for  the  approx- 
imate strength  in  oflEicers  and  men,  as  well  as  freight 
tonnage.    This  was  quickly  furnished. 

He  then  went  back  to  Hoboken  and  found  out  from 
Major  Hambleton  the  tentative  schedules  of  transports 
for  the  future,  which  were  given  confidentially.  Major 
Hambleton  also  furnished  the  capacities  of  the  boats  for 
oflScers,  men  and  cargo. 

For  his  own  amusement,  and  in  order  to  be  prepared 
for  the  call  for  troops  on  short  notice  by  Colonel  Carson, 
Captain  Pendleton  made  up  a  schedule  assigning  certain 
units  to  certain  ships  in  accordance  with  the  dates  of 
arrival  and  departure,  reconciled,  of  course,  with  General 
Edwards'  sequence  list. 

S8 


Brigadier-General  George  H.  Shelton 


MbJK 

■    c  »i- 

;.-         «_    -»«■ 

■             ^.    BB    -^^.^ 

---^If-- (■"-TpJT'S— -     •     • 

»■-,     s     ' 

Bishop  William  Lawrence  and  Chaplains  at  Westfield,  Mass. 


Officers  of  the  Ist  Trench  Mortar  Battery  with  Governor  Milliken 

of  Maine 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

As  soon  as  this  was  finished  Captain  Pendleton  con- 
ferred with  Colonel  Carson  and  showed  him  what  he  had 
done.  He  demonstrated  how  the  colonel  had  been  saved 
much  thought  and  work,  and  this  was  appreciated. 

When  the  next  boats  were  available  all  the  troops  of 
the  Forty-second  Division  had  not  yet  arrived  at  their 
concentration  camp,  and  the  Twenty-sixth  units  were  the 
only  ones  ready  to  move. 

Again  the  Twenty-sixth  got  the  transports,  and  they 
were  loaded  with  the  same  success  as  before.  The  em- 
barkation officials  were  highly  delighted. 

It  was  then  that  Captain  Pendleton  learned  that 
English  ships  were  available  at  Montreal.  He  prevailed 
on  one  of  the  embarkation  officials  to  go  there  with  him 
and  look  over  the  situation.  They  found  one  ship  with 
large  capacity  ready  to  pull  out.  A  conference  was  then 
held  with  the  officials  of  the  White  Star  and  other  lines, 
who  offered  prospects  of  immediate  sailings  of  big  ships. 

Back  again  in  Hoboken,  Colonel  Carson  was  informed 
of  what  had  taken  place,  and  it  was  arranged  for  Captain 
Pendleton  to  use  ships  out  of  Montreal.  Colonel  Carson 
and  General  Shanks  arranged  it  through  the  War  Depart- 
ment with  our  State  Department  and  the  Canadian 
government.  By  this  move  a  number  of  ships  were 
secured  upon  which  no  one  had  figured. 

The  Canadian  movements  were  cleverly  arranged  and 
executed.  Canadian  railroad  and  steamship  officials  had 
had  so  much  experience  that  they  handled  American 
troop  movements  with  excellent  skill. 

The  2d  Battalion  of  the  102d  Infantry,  under  Major 
Alcorn,  was  assigned  to  the  "Lenape,"  which  had  just 
returned  from  abroad  after  delivering  some  of  the  di- 
visional troops.  The  "Lenape"  was  out  three  days  from 
New  York  with  this  battalion  when  it  had  engine  trouble. 

^9 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

The  boat  wallowed  in  the  trough  of  high  seas  until  every 
one  was  seasick,  and  then  put  back  to  port.  The  battalion 
was  put  ashore  and  the  Fort  Slocum  authorities  furnished 
tentage  and  took  care  of  the  men.  They  were  later  sent 
over  on  the  "Tunisian,"  sailing  from  Montreal  on  Oc- 
tober 14. 

With  the  exception  of  this  battalion,  the  last  divisional 
unit  to  leave  was  the  101st  Machine  Gun  Battalion, 
under  command  of  Major  James  L.  Howard  of  Hartford, 
Ct.  The  battalion  left  on  the  "Megan tic,"  which  sailed 
from  Montreal  on  October  10.  Captain  Pendleton  accom- 
panied this  battalion. 

The  entire  division  thus  left  New  England  without 
any  one  except  those  directly  interested  knowing  any- 
thing about  it. 

While  all  this  was  going  on,  the  New  York  papers  were 
daily  publishing  stories,  stating  that  the  Forty-second 
Division  was  fully  organized  and  equipped,  and  ready 
immediately  to  go  abroad  and  be  the  first  National  Guard 
troops  to  arrive  in  France. 

The  New  England  papers  had  loyally  refrained  from 
publishing  anything  about  the  Twenty-sixth  Division, 
which  all  this  time  was  quickly  moving  overseas. 

It  was  generally  believed  by  those  few  who  saw  the 
Twenty-sixth  movements  that  the  troops  were  on  the  way 
to  Camp  Greene,  N.  C,  for  training.  For  months  after- 
ward members  of  the  division  received  mail  which  had 
been  forwarded  to  them  in  France  from  Camp  Greene. 
Although  the  division  was  in  France  in  its  training  area, 
a  great  many  people  still  believed  that  it  was  in  North 
Carolina.  In  fact,  the  division  moved  out  so  rapidly 
that  the  sergeant  and  ten  men  sent  to  Camp  Greene 
were  nearly  left  behind. 

General  Edwards  and  his  staff  sailed  on  September  25, 

30 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

on  the  commercial  liner  "New  York,"  which  was  not  con- 
voyed. They  enjoyed  an  extremely  pleasant  trip.  Later, 
the  Navy  Department  took  over  this  boat,  making  it  a 
transport,  and  General  Edwards  and  Major  Hyatt 
returned  to  the  United  States  on  it  in  November  of  the 
following  year. 

When  the  division  was  organized  it  had  practically  full 
equipment  of  animals,  animal-drawn  transport,  motor 
transport  and  all  other  ordnance,  signal  corps  and  engineer 
equipment  it  was  supposed  to  have.  The  War  Depart- 
ment, however,  refused  to  permit  this  to  be  taken  along 
with  the  organization,  but  promised  that  it  would  be  in 
France  before  the  troops.  In  charge  of  a  supply  company 
it  was  sent  to  Newport  News  for  shipment,  and  the  divi- 
sion arrived  at  its  training  area  with  one  Ford  touring 
car,  no  animals,  no  wagons  and  two  motor  cycles. 


31 


CHAPTER   III 
Training  in  France 

Some  of  the  troops  landed  at  Liverpool  and  some  at 
St.  Nazaire,  France,  but  all  were  quickly  forwarded  to  a 
training  area  in  the  vicinity  of  Neufchateau,  where  the 
entire  division,  less  the  artillery  brigade,  with  ammuni- 
tion train  and  trench  mortar  battery,  was  concentrated. 
These  latter  were  sent  to  Coequidon  for  artillery  training. 

The  troops  were  quartered  in  billets  within  a  radius  of 
15  miles  from  Neufchateau,  in  which  place  divisional 
headquarters  was  located.  General  Edwards,  Colonel 
Shelton  and  Captain  Hyatt  went  to  the  British  front  for 
observation,  and  General  Traub  took  command  of  the 
division.  Divisional  headquarters  was  opened  at  Neuf- 
chateau on  October  31. 

The  division  was  confronted  by  many  problems, 
especially  those  of  transportation  and  supply.  Due  to 
the  lack  of  animals  and  transport  in  general,  it  was 
extremely  difficult  to  feed  and  equip  the  troops. 

The  weather  was  cold  and  it  was  sleeting  most  of  the 
time.  The  roads  were  in  bad  shape,  covered  with  mud, 
and  it  was  necessary  for  the  men  to  go  to  distributing 
points  and  bring  back  flour,  bacon,  coffee  and  other  arti- 
cles of  subsistence  on  their  backs.  To  get  firewood  it 
was  necessary  for  them  to  go  into  the  forests,  fell  a  tree, 
cut  it  up  and  bring  it  to  camp. 

Colonel  Beacham,  who  was  then  quartermaster,  did 
everything  he  could  to  relieve  the  situation,  and  his  per- 
sonality and  advice  to  make  the  best  of  the  situation  and 

32 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

"play  the  game'*  went  a  long  way  in  keeping  up  the 
spirit  of  the  division. 

The  101st  Engineers  had  been  detached  from  the  divi- 
sion shortly  after  its  arrival,  and  was  engaged  in  putting 
up  barracks  for  the  Forty-second  Division,  which  was 
then  on  the  seas.  A  supply  company  had  also  been 
loaned  to  the  First  Division,  Regulars,  who  had  gone 
over  with  General  Pershing,  but  were  not  fully  organized. 
The  Twenty-sixth  was  especially  handicapped  by  a  lack 
of  rifle  ranges,  the  men  being  forced  to  shoot  at  tin  cans 
and  bottles.    Later,  they  built  their  own  ranges. 

The  situation  is  best  described  in  the  picturesque  lan- 
guage of  General  Edwards :  — 

They  kept  me  away  from  the  division  for  one  month  [he 
said],  and  I  had  the  great  privilege  of  serving  with  the  famous 
Fifty-first  Highlanders  up  near  the  Cambrai  front.  Then  I  went 
to  the  Irish  Division,  then  to  the  Ulster  Division,  and  saw  their 
"shows,"  as  they  called  them.  One  was  a  two-brigade  raid.  It 
was  the  most  marvellous  thing,  where  they  went  over  the  top, 
and  where  they  used  gas,  large  calibers  and  barrage,  and  made 
their  raid  and  came  back  at  night.  Then  every  night  they  would 
give  them  what  they  called  "a  bit  of  chemical  barrage,"  and 
that  amounted  to  the  Englishmen  throwing  over  a  double  dose 
of  gas,  to  discount  anything  the  Boche  ever  did. 

Then  I  went  to  Chemin  des  Dames.  On  the  10th  of  November 
I  joined  my  division.  All  but  one  battalion  of  the  102d  Infantry, 
the  Connecticut  regiment,  had  arrived.  They  were  in  England. 
For  ten  days  those  25,000  men  had  three  trucks  to  feed  them- 
selves. After  that  the  French  loaned  us  eleven  and  we  got 
twenty-two  Packard  trucks.  The  men  used  to  march  2  and 
sometimes  3  miles  for  their  fuel.  They  would  cut  in  the  snow 
the  saplings,  and  each  man  would  take  one  in  his  hands,  and  they 
had  no  gloves.  Then  they  would  march  back  and  cut  up  those 
saplings  so  they  could  smoke  and  put  out  their  eyes  in  the  cow 
stables  they  occupied. 

33 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

The  men  went  into  billets;  they  went  into  garrets,  but  there 
was  no  fire.  They  went  in  pigsties  and  in  cow  stables.  Their 
feet  were  wet.  And  then  came  the  necessity  of  unloading  big 
lots  of  trains,  of  digging  sewers  and  building  hospitals. 

At  that  time  the  labor  troops  had  not  arrived.  It  was  neces- 
sary for  the  fighting  troops  to  do  the  work.  About  70  per  cent 
of  the  men  had  bronchitis  or  pneumonia.  You  could  not  get 
one  of  them  to  go  to  a  doctor.  I  had  about  as  bad  a  cough  as 
the  rest,  and  I  would  run  around  among  them  myself.  I  told 
tlie  doctors  to  put  them  on  sick  report,  and  that  public  opinion 
in  the  companies  would  take  care  of  the  malingering. 

There  were  many  articles  of  equipment  which  they  could  not 
get.  Frequently  there  would  be  a  deficiency  in  the  rations.  I 
never  saw  so  much  mud  and  rain  in  my  life.  Their  feet  were 
generally  wet  and  we  were  experimenting  with  the  shoes.  We 
turned  the  leather  v/rong  side  out  and  fixed  the  pores  so  that 
they  would  act  like  syphons  —  and  fill  our  shoes  with  water. 
I  never  saw  men  put  up  with  so  many  discomforts  in  my  life. 

They  had  French  methods  to  absorb.  The  French  were  keen 
and  earnest  to  teach  them  what  they  knew.  They  had  four 
years  of  trench  warfare,  and  they  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  special  methods  and  special  instruments  and  arms  which 
they  were  using  were  essential  to  their  winning  out.  And  as  I 
recall  it,  they  worked  on  this  sewer  problem,  they  worked  on 
the  sewer  warfare,  because  they  had  to  live  ia  the  sewer. 

I  am  just  sketching  some  of  the  difficulties,  but  the  word 
I  want  to  give  you  is  that  I  never  heard  a  complaint  from  these 
25,000  men.  The  one  thing  they  demanded  was,  "General, 
let  us  get  at  those  Boches!" 

During  General  Edwards'  absence,  Captain  Malick  of 
the  French  Army,  a  thorough  gentleman  and  experienced 
officer  of  most  pleasing  personality  and  professional 
accomplishments,  had  been  assigned  to  the  division  as 
senior  officer  of  the  French  Mission  attached  to  the 
Twenty-sixth.     He  saw  the  situation  that  existed,  and 

34 


I 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

telegraphed  to  his  chief  that  the  Twenty-sixth  Division 
needed  trucks;  had  to  have  trucks.  As  a  result  a  French 
company  with  thirty  trucks  came  to  their  assistance,  and 
stayed  with  the  division  until  it  went  into  an  active 
sector.    The  trucks  saved  the  situation. 

About  this  time  Captain  Pendleton,  who  had  succeeded 
in  securing  transports  from  under  the  noses  of  other 
units  at  Hoboken,  was  sent  on  a  scouting  expedition  to 
locate  lost  freight  and  baggage.  He  went  to  Folkestone, 
London,  Liverpool,  Southampton,  Havre,  Brest  and  St. 
Nazaire,  and  was  able  to  find  a  great  deal,  but  much  of 
it  was  lost  and  never  showed  up,  thus  adding  to  the  hard- 
ships of  the  division. 

Upon  his  return  Captain  Pendleton  conferred  with 
Colonel  Beacham,  the  divisional  quartennaster,  about 
the  transportation  problem.  The  French  trucks  were  not 
sufficient  in  capacity  or  number  to  take  care  of  the  divi- 
sion's needs. 

Colonel  Beacham  then  suggested  that  the  captain  go 
to  Paris  and  to  the  Reception  Park  at  St.  Nazaire  to  see 
what  he  could  beg,  buy  or  steal.  This  was  done,  and  on 
his  arrival  in  Paris,  Captain  Pendleton  m.et  General 
Edwards,  who  had  just  returned  from  the  British  front. 
Wlien  informed  of  his  aide's  mission,  the  General  said; 
"Go  to  it  and  don't  come  back  without  trucks!" 

At  the  Motor  Reception  Park  at  St.  Nazaire  were 
found  any  amount  of  3-ton  trucks.  Ford  ambulances, 
motor  cars  and  motor  cycles.  Captain  Pendleton  wired 
to  that  effect,  and  suggested  that  it  be  taken  up  with 
general  headquarters  and  an  immediate  assignment  be 
secured.  In  the  meantime  he  arranged  Yviih.  the  Ameri- 
can military  authorities  at  St.  Nazaire  for  truck  equip- 
ment for  two  truck  companies  of  twenty-eight  trucks 
each.     The  personnel  of  the  101st  Supply  Train,  under 

35 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

command  of  Lieutenant  Henderson,  arrived  and  manned 
the  fifty-six  trucks.  Captain  Pendleton  then  took  all  the 
tnicks  to  the  big  quartermaster  depot  at  St.  Nazaire, 
and  loaded  them  with  flour,  coffee,  sugar,  canned  goods, 
rubber  boots,  ponchos,  horseshoes,  shovels,  with  some 
lumber,  and  sent  them  on  their  way  over  the  roads  to 
Neuf  chateau. 

The  arrival  of  these  trucks  with  their  supplies  happily 
remedied  the  situation.  Things  were  going  along  in  good 
style,  despite  the  handicaps.  The  101st  Engineers  had 
not  returned  to  the  division,  but  were  engaged  in  build- 
ing cantonments  and  hospitals. 

Battalions  of  infantry  were  digging  sewers  and  drains 
when  they  should  have  been  training.  The  weather  was 
bitterly  cold,  and  the  men  needed  gloves,  knitted  hel- 
mets, heavy  underwear  and  new  shoes,  which  were  not 
possible  of  procurement  from  a  government  source. 

About  this  time  orders  were  received  to  send  the  new 
trucks  with  their  personnel  to  the  First  and  Forty-second 
Divisions.  General  Edwards  immediately  telephoned  to 
General  Pershing  and  explained  the  situation,  with  the 
result  that  permission  was  given  to  retain  the  trucks. 

A  few  days  later  the  quartermaster  of  the  Forty-sec- 
ond Division  came  down  and  told  his  story.  They  were 
even  worse  off  than  the  Twenty-sixth,  and  so  the  Yankee 
Division  turned  over  twenty-eight  trucks  to  them.  The 
personnel  came  back,  but  soon  after  orders  were  received 
to  transfer  the  entire  personnel  of  one  truck  company  to 
the  First  Division.    They  never  returned. 

Then  wagons  and  animals  began  to  arrive.  The 
bakery  company  was  turning  out  excellent  bread  in  suffi- 
cient quantity  to  supply  the  division  and  the  advanced 
section  line  of  communication.  This  company  was  taken 
away  from  the  division  and  with  other  companies  put  to 

36 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

baking  bread  for  the  lines  of  communication,  which 
became  the  source  of  the  division's  bread  supply. 

Colonel  Beacham  was  shortly  relieved  as  divisional 
quartennaster.  Captain  Pendleton  was  recalled  from 
the  General  St-aff  College  by  General  Edwards,  promoted 
to  major,  and  detailed  as  divisional  quartennaster. 

The  new  quartermaster  sent  out  scouts,  the  greatest  of 
whom  was  Captain  *'A1"  Ford,  a  former  Boston  news- 
paperman, to  go  to  Paris,  Nancy,  Tours  and  other  places 
to  buy  gloves,  knitted  helmets,  underwear,  shoes,  etc. 
General  Rogers,  at  Chaumont,  approved  of  what  was 
being  done  and  gave  blanket  authority  to  purchase  what 
the  division  needed.  Captain  Scorer,  the  disbursing 
officer,  had  about  $6,000,000  to  his  official  credit,  so  that 
it  was  possible  to  spend  as  much  money  as  was  necessary. 
There  was  always  plenty  of  food  during  that  period,  but 
there  was  a  serious  shortage  of  hay  and  oats.  Captain 
Henry  H.  Wheelock,  assistant  quartermaster,  was  instru- 
mental in  purchasing  all  the  hay  and  oats  for  miles  around. 
In  that  way  the  divisional  animals  got  full  rations.  It  is 
a  fact  that  at  this  time  two  of  the  other  divisions  lost 
great  numbers  of  animals  from  starvation.  The  Twenty- 
sixth  lost  none. 

Then  it  grew  so  cold  that  the  fuel  problem  became 
serious.  No  wood  could  be  secured  from  the  lines  of 
communication,  and  the  lack  of  fires  was  working  an 
additional  hardship  on  the  men;  also  at  this  time  the 
French  peasants  had  become  extremely  despondent,  and 
openly  told  the  soldiers  that  their  entrance  into  the  war 
would  merely  prolong  it  four  or  five  years.  They  declared 
they  were  ready  to  make  peace  even  at  the  Gennan's 
terms.  This  attitude  was  not  evidenced  by  the  more 
intelligent  French  people,  however,  and  it  had  absolutely 
no    effect    on    the   New  Englanders.     Lieutenant,    later 

37 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

Major,  Theodore  Baker  and  Lieutenant  Dickson  were 
sent  out  to  buy  up  all  the  wood  they  could  find.  They 
made  contracts  for  immediate  and  future  deliveries  which 
took  care  of  the  entire  division. 

During  this  time  the  training  of  the  men  went  on  as 
steadily  as  possible,  considering  the  number  of  working 
details  necessary  each  day.  The  men  were  billeted  in 
various  small  villages  within  a  radius  of  15  miles  from 
Neufchateau,  where,  on  the  Rue  St.  Anne,  divisional 
headquarters  was  located.  Each  morning  they  marched 
about  6  kilometers  to  their  training  fields,  where  they 
were  put  through  an  intensive  course  under  the  guidance 
of  the  French.  The  latter,  after  their  three  years  of 
experience,  were  wedded  to  trench  warfare,  and  at- 
tempted to  concentrate  on  it. 

General  Edwards,  however,  differed  with  them  on  this 
subject,  and  insisted  that  the  men  be  given  thorough 
training  on  the  range  and  with  the  bayonet.  He  declared 
that  the  rifle  had  always  been  the  reliance  of  the  Ameri- 
can soldier,  and  that  grenades  and  bombs  were  to  be 
used  only  when  the  enemy  failed  to  leave  his  dugouts. 
Subsequent  operations  of  the  division  in  battle  proved 
the  wisdom  of  his  attitude.  The  French  were  also  con- 
tinually dinning  into  the  ears  of  the  Yankees  the  danger 
of  overconfidence. 

They  attempted  to  instill  a  spirit  of  cautiousness,  but 
it  is  not  on  record  that  the  New  Englanders  were  ever 
afflicted  with  it.  Time  and  time  again  in  the  various 
battles  in  which  they  took  part  they  went  forward  through 
barrages  that  were  considered  impassable. 


38 


CHAPTER    IV 
Enjoy  Old-fashioned  Christmas 

The  men  had  celebrated  Christmas  in  the  training  area, 
an  old-fashioned  "white"  Christmas,  and,  for  many,  the 
first  one  away  from  home.  A  week  before  hundreds  of 
freight  cars  had  arrived,  laden  with  packages  from'^home, 
and  these  were  distributed  to  all  by  Christmas  Eve.  Men 
who  had  been  unfortunate  in  receiving  no  gifts  shared 
those  sent  to  their  comrades,  so  that  every  one  was  made 
as  happy  as  possible  considering  the  distance  from  home 
and  loved  ones,  and  the  realization  that  all  were  shortly 
to  go  into  action. 

On  Christmas  Day  only  the  necessary  military  duties 
were  performed,  and  the  men  were  given  the  time  to 
themselves.  The  majority  took  occasion  on  that  day  to 
attend  services  in  some  of  the  tiny  chapels  in  the  neigh- 
borhood and  to  pray  for  the  folks  at  home. 

This  attitude  of  devotion  to  Christian  ideals  on  the 
part  of  the  men  of  the  Yankee  Division  was  noticeable 
throughout  their  stay  in  France.  It  led  to  many  com- 
mendations. Prior  to  leaving  home  the  majority  had 
been  carefree,  typical  boys,  who,  though  they  realized  the 
necessity  of  religion  in  daily  life,  more  often  than  not 
gave  little  time  to  it. 

When  they  arrived  in  France,  however,  and  began  to 
come  into  contact  with  war's  grim  realities,  they  became 
more  sincere. 

"God  bless  them,"  said  Brigadier  Mary  Sheppard  of 
the  Salvation  Army,  who  spent  months  with  the  division, 
"they  were  the  best  boys  in  the  world.  No  words  that  I 
can  use  would  be  too  good  for  them." 

39 


THE   YANKEE  DIVISION 

The  days  dragged  on  into  January  with  General 
Edwards  going  about  daily  and  establishing  personal 
contact  with  his  men.  Practically  every  one,  including 
the  General,  suffered  from  colds  and  bronchitis,  but  he 
continued  his  work  of  building  up  morale,  which  the 
lack  of  training  time  had  prevented. 

I  am  an  a^\^ully  ingrained  Yankee,  [remarked  General  Ed- 
wards], and  I  know  one  American  could  lick  four  or  five  of  those 
Dutchmen,    If  there  is  one  thing  in  which  we  excel  it  is  initiative. 

Now  my  job  was  to  aid,  pat  on  the  back  and  capitalize  those 
qualities  which  are  not  so  prominent  in  otlier  nations,  —  dig- 
nify the  non-commissioned  officer,  tell  the  private  he  has  a 
baton  in  his  hand,  pat  the  young  commissioned  officer  on  the 
back  and  say,  "Go  out  and  get  killed  if  you  cannot  lick  the 
Dutchman." 

I  had  to  go  along  with  the  whole  business  and  supply  the 
lack  of  training  and  the  lack  of  opportunity  by  capitahzing 
the  traditions  of  our  blood  and  individuality. 

So  I  took  these  battalions  and  said,  "Bring  them  up  around 
me."  I  had  a  bad  cold  which  afterward  resulted  in  pneumonia. 
We  all  had  it.  I  would  say  to  the  men,  "I  am  going  to  tell  you 
what  I  have  seen  up  in  the  British  front,  and  I  am  going  to  tell 
you  all  that  is  going  to  take  the  place  of  training,  and  I  want  to 
say  to  each  one  of  you,  play  the  game  with  your  whole  heart, 
make  good  every  effort.  Just  think  of  your  home  and  mother 
every  day  of  your  life." 

"How  about  the  salute.^"  I'd  ask.  That  is  the  thing  that 
the  American  soldier  has  less  sympathy  with  than  anything 
else.  If  there  is  any  way  he  can  beat  that  salute  he  is  going  to 
do  it.  I  have  passed  a  big  crowd  and  I  know  what  they  said: 
"Hell,  here  comes  the  old  man,"  and  then  spend  time  trying 
to  tie  a  shoe  or  looking  the  other  way,  or  jumping  into  a  billet. 

"You  show  me  a  crackerjack  saluting  command  and  I  will 
show  you  a  disciphned  command.  The  British  Army  salutes 
and  the  Russian  Army  doesn't.     Remember  that  a  salute  is 

40 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

nothing  on  earth  in  this  game  but  the  manifestation  of  a  man's 
self-respect.  Salute  a  man  that  you  loathe,  salute  an  empty 
automobile  if  you  think  there  is  some  martinet  inside  of  it, 
and  always  put  yourself  right  with  the  command. 

"I  believe  that  a  salute  is  nothing  in  the  world  but  an  in- 
heritance from  savages,  who  said,  'I  have  no  arms.  I  am  a 
friend,  come  on.' 

"When  you  salute,  give  me  the  salute  with  your  eyes.  Keep 
your  eyes  off  the  mud  of  France.  When  a  man  walks  along 
like  that,  his  stomach  will  not  function.  He  has  a  bad  tongue. 
His  feet  are  wet.  Keep  your  eyes  up  in  the  clouds  and  smile. 
When  you  salute,  look  at  the  man  you  are  saluting;  give  him 
the  tribute  of  your  eyes  and  smile.  Don't  any  one  of  you  dare 
to  salute  me  unless  he  smiles.  Let  me  know  the  officer  that 
does  not  smile  back,  and  salute  in  acknowledgment  of  the 
tribute  that  you  gave  him." 

For  the  military  police  I  had  selected  325  men.  Their  colonel 
and  their  crackerjack  Major  Dolan  were  told  to  go  and  pick 
them,  to  be  the  rock  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division.  "  Pick  them 
for  character,"  I  said;  "pick  them  for  size,  pick  them  for 
bowels,  and  I  will  show  you  the  greatest  military  police  in  the 
world." 

They  certainly  picked  them.  I  do  not  believe  I  ever  had  to 
court-martial  one  of  those  men.    They  had  me  afraid. 

One  of  them  jumped  on  my  automobile  one  day  when  that 
fine  soldier.  Captain  Simpkins,  was  with  me.  The  policeman 
said  to  my  sergeant  chauffeur:  "The  orders  are  8  miles  an  hour 
up  this  narrow  street.  You  are  going  12;  stop  it."  The  sergeant 
looked  at  me.  I  said:  "Obey  him."  I  got  to  my  house  and 
told  Captain  Simpkins  to  go  back  and  compliment  that  lad. 

Later  I  saw  an  officer  in  a  magnificent  trench  coat  pass  one 
of  those  big  policemen.  The  policeman  saluted,  but  the  officer 
gave  him  what  Major  Scorer  used  to  call  an  S.  O.  S.  salute.  I 
called  the  captain  back,  and  told  him  that  he  was  not  going  the 
right  way  to  pay  a  tribute  to  his  flag.  I  said :  "  There  is  a  man," 
pointing  to  the  policeman,  "who  is  playing  the  game,  but  you 


41 


THE   YANKEE  DIVISION 

are  not  playing  it.  Salute  him  with  the  same  care  you  salute 
me.  I  salute  a  military  policeman  with  as  much  care  as  I 
would  salute  General  Pershing." 

Two  days  later  Captain  Simpkins  and  I  were  coming  back. 
The  same  big  policeman  stood  there.  There  was  a  number  of 
soldiers  standing  around.  I  called  the  men  around  me  and 
said:  "You  see  that  street.  Get  down  there  double  time,  turn 
around,  come  back  and  see  if  you  can  salute  that  soldier  as  he 
should  be  saluted.  I  will  watch  it."  They  did  as  they  were 
told.  I  said:  "Sentinel,  I  don't  think  that  is  very  good,  do 
you?"  "I  don't  think  it  is.  General,"  said  he.  Then  I  told 
the  men  to  go  right  back  and  try  it  over  again,  or  they  would 
trade  places  with  the  policeman.  The  next  time  the  policeman 
admitted  that  the  salutes  were  correct. 

That  is  merely  an  example  of  how  I  went  after  them  every 
day.  However,  when  they  did  anything  right  I  would  tell  them 
so,  and  that  was  the  soul  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division. 

All  through  November  the  artillery,  trench  mortar  bat- 
tery and  ammunition  train  had  been  getting  into  shape 
at  Coetquidon,  the  artillery  training  camp.  Then  on 
December  18,  500  ofBcers  and  men  were  sent  to  the  divi- 
sion area  at  Neufchateau  to  prepare  billets  for  the  artil- 
lery brigade  at  Rimacourt.  They  were  never  occupied, 
however. 

The  ammunition  train,  in  command  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  William  J.  Keville,  was  in  particularly  bad  con- 
dition, owing  to  lack  of  equipment. 

Arriving  in  France  with  practically  no  mobile  equip- 
ment, it  was  some  time  before  the  men  of  the  train  got 
even  a  single  truck  on  which  the  drivers  could  be  in- 
structed. A  detail  of  twenty  trucks  was  at  length  secured 
from  St.  Nazaire,  and  these  were  at  once  put  into  service 
hauling  supplies  to  Coetquidon.  The  drivers  were  alter- 
nated, so  that  the  inexperienced  were  enabled  to  get 

42 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

practice.  The  men  also  got  some  experience  handling 
ammunition,  carrying  it  up  each  day  from  Rennes  for 
artillery  practice. 

Like  all  other  parts  of  the  division,  although  it  was 
one  of  the  most  vitally  important,  the  train  suffered  from 
lack  of  necessary  supplies.  The  men  were  also  forced  to 
take  part  in  road  building  and  the  construction  of  artillery 
positions. 

There  was  no  motor  equipment,  no  trucks  to  speak  of, 
and  no  machine  shop  in  which  to  repair  the  trucks  they 
had.  Another  train  turned  over  twentv-two  trucks  to 
the  101st  of  which  only  three  were  mobile.  However, 
Yankee  ingenuity  can  accomplish  most  anything,  and  in 
a  few  days  the  men  had  fourteen  of  the  trucks  going. 

The  expected  equipment  never  came  except  in  part, 
and  for  many  months  the  ammunition  train  got  along 
with  an  outfit  that  was  badly  handicapped.  On  Janu- 
ary 6  a  divisional  ordnance  repair  shop,  mounted  on  a 
truck,  was  attached  to  the  ammunition  train,  but  imme- 
diately went  to  work  repairing  artillery  material. 

The  artillery  also  lacked  equipment,  but  to  no  such 
extent,  being  helped  out  considerably  by  the  French  and 
British. 

The  artillery  had  left  its  American  3-inch  guns  at 
home,  and  on  arriving  in  France  started  in  to  learn  to 
use  the  French  *'75s"  and  the  heavier  "155s,"  corre- 
sponding to  our  6-inch  gun. 

The  75  was  one  of  the  most  efficient  weapons  of  the 
war,  about  the  same  caliber  as  a  3-inch,  but  with  improved 
recoil  mechanism  and  periscopic  sight.  With  this  gun 
the  French  had  done  tremendous  execution  on  the  enemy, 
and  had  attained  an  accuracy  which  it  was  impossible  to 
better.  However,  the  Yankees  took  the  gun,  and  per- 
ceiving the  advantages  of  the  recoil  mechanism,  became 

43 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

so  proficient  in  loading  that  the  Germans  afterward  fre- 
quently declared  they  were  using  a  3-inch  machine  gun. 
The  Yankee  trick  of  loading  on  the  recoil  was  difficult 
and  dangerous,  but  was  much  more  rapid  than  the  regu- 
lation fashion. 

The  *'Y.  D."  artillery  also  became  extremely  accurate, 
and  learned  to  lay  barrages  with  such  deadly  precision 
that  the  "doughboys"  later  on  took  to  "leaning  on" 
them.  This  expression  means  that  the  infantry  kept  so 
close  to  their  own  barrage  that  unless  it  were  as  accurate 
as  possible  in  the  nature  of  things,  many  of  our  own  men 
would  have  been  killed. 

Under  the  expert  instruction  of  the  French,  who  are 
declared  to  be  the  best  artillerymen  in  the  world,  the 
Yankees  became  so  proficient  that  they  were  frequently 
called  on  to  go  into  a  sector  in  advance  of  the  infantry, 
and  remain  there  to  help  out  other  outfits  when  their  own 
division  had  pulled  out. 

On  the  last  Sunday  in  January  the  members  of  the 
division,  together  with  French  troops  and  peasants,  were 
treated  to  an  impressive  spectacle.  The  101st  Infantry 
was  lined  up,  the  men  all  wearing  new  trench  caps  which 
had  been  secured  for  them  by  Colonel  Logan,  and  Gen- 
eral Edwards  presented  a  stand  of  colors.  The  colors 
were  sent  by  Governor  Samuel  W.  McCall  of  Massa- 
chusetts in  behalf  of  the  people  of  the  State,  and  were 
accepted  for  the  regiment  by  Colonel  Logan. 

It  became  necessary  to  reorganize  divisional  head- 
quarters along  new  general  staff  lines  developed  by  gen- 
eral headquarters  of  the  A.  E.  F. 

This  plan  called  for  a  chief  of  staff,  —  to  which  position 
Colonel  Shelton  was  appointed,  —  assistant  chief  of  staff 
G-1  for  supply,  administration  and  co-ordination,  assist- 
ant chief  of  staff  G-2  for  intelligence,  and  assistant  chief 

44 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

of  staff  G-3  for  operation.  Major  Pendleton  had  done 
so  well  as  quartermaster  that  General  Edwards  appointed 
him  G-1  of  the  division,  in  which  position  he  was  in 
charge  of  all  matters  of  transportation,  supply  of  subsist- 
ence, equipment,  ammunition,  construction,  evacuation 
of  sick  and  wounded,  replacements,  material  and  person- 
nel, animals,  etc.  The  other  two  appointees  were  Major 
Hyatt,  aide  to  the  General,  as  G-2,  and  Major  Mack  as 
G-3. 

In  the  meantime  it  had  been  decided  that  Major  How- 
ard, commanding  the  101st  Machine  Gun  Battalion, 
should  be  made  acting  divisional  machine  gun  officer, 
and  in  December  he  had  been  sent  to  a  British  machine 
gun  school  at  Camiers.  Then  he  joined  the  Canadians 
in  front  of  Lens,  observing  the  machine  gun  work,  and 
did  not  return  to  the  division  until  it  had  gone  into  an 
active  sector. 

Soon  after  the  organization  along  the  new  lines.  General 
Edwards  was  ordered  to  go  to  general  headquarters  at 
Chinan.  Taking  with  him  his  chief  of  staff  and  Major 
Pendleton,  he  presented  himself  and  was  informed  that 
General  Petain  and  the  French  government  had  persuaded 
General  Pershing  to  allow  some  of  the  Twenty-sixth 
troops  to  go  up  to  the  Chemin  des  Dames  and  learn  the 
German  tactics.    The  plan  was  to  send  two  battalions. 

General  Castelnau,  the  "grand  old  man"  in  command 
of  that  sector,  said:  "We  are  anxious  to  tell  you  every- 
thing we  know.  We  have  lost  thousands  of  lives  that 
might  have  been  saved,  but  I  am  an  old  man  and  I  have 
got  to  admit  that  there  is  only  one  instructor  in  this  war, 
and  that  is  the  Boche." 

Edwards  was  asked  if  he  would  allow  these  two  bat- 
talions to  go  up.  Straightening  himself  to  his  full  height, 
he  announced:    "I  want  every  man  of  the  Twenty-sixth 

45 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Division,  and  I  will  take  them  all  up  to  the  Cliemin  des 
Dames." 

He  was  told  that  all  of  his  troops  had  not  had  sufficient 
training,  but  he  replied:   "Let  them  go  up." 

He  was  taken  at  his  word,  and  the  artillery  brigade, 
ammunition  train,  trench  mortar  battery  and  engineer 
regunent  were  directed  to  proceed  to  the  new  area  and 
join  the  rest  of  the  division.  General  Traub,  who  had 
commanded  the  division  in  the  absence  of  General 
Edwards,  with  Major  Pendleton  and  Captain  Malick  of 
the  French  Mission,  went  up  to  Soissons  as  the  advance 
party  of  the  division  to  make  all  arrangements. 

The  division  was  assigned  to  the  Eleventh  French 
Corps  under  General  de  Mau  d'Huy,  part  of  General 
Duchesne's  army.  The  movement  was  very  successfully 
executed,  and  was  witnessed  by  a  number  of  American 
officers  from  general  headquarters. 

The  division  entered  the  line  on  February  5  and 
remained  in  the  sector  about  one  and  a  haK  months. 
The  artillery  went  in  first,  and  then  the  infantry,  in 
companies  and  battalions,  entered  the  sector  and  relieved 
the  front  line  troops. 

For  the  first  time  the  division  was  concentrated  with 
every  unit.  The  organization  was  split  up  and  parts  of 
it  were  assigned  to  the  Fourth  French  Division  as  a 
matter  of  training. 

It  was  necessary  to  have  eleven  distributing  points  by 
motor  beyond  the  end  of  the  railroad,  where  all  the  sup- 
plies arrived.  In  other  words.  General  Edwards  had 
administrative  control  of  the  nearly  30,000  men,  but  did 
not  have  the  tactical  control. 


46 


CHAPTER   V 
First  United  States  Divisional  Shot  in  War 

The  guns  of  Battery  A  of  the  101st  Field  Artillery 
went  into  action  on  the  afternoon  of  February  5.  At 
3.45  o'clock  one  of  the  75s  fired  the  first  shot  of' a  full 
American  division,  much  to  the  delight  of  the  peppery 
Colonel  Sherburne,  commanding  the  regiment.  The 
shell  case  was  later  sent  home,  and  placed  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts State  capitol.  The  101st  Infantry  went  through 
to  front  line  positions  that  night,  and  was  the  first  National 
Guard  outfit,  representing  a  full  division,  to  get  into 
action. 

It  was  a  new  and  somewhat  nerve-wracking  experi- 
ence for  these  New  England  boys.  Filing  one  by  one 
into  the  line  in  the  darkness  of  night,  with  French  soldiers 
guiding  them,  they  took  their  places.  It  was  a  strange 
feeling  to  realize  that  but  a  short  distance  away  were 
men  who  would  gladly  murder  them  at  the  first  oppor- 
tunity. All  that  night  the  sentinels  peered  anxiously 
into  the  blackness  of  No  Man's  Land.  Many  times  an 
overwrought  lad  believed  that  he  saw  large  bodies  of  the 
enemy  advancing  toward  the  American  lines. 

The  division  was  under  the  French  in  all  matters 
except  supply,  evacuation  and  ammunition.  The  troops 
were  scattered  over  40  kilometers  of  front,  and  the  daily 
supply  of  various  units  with  subsistence  and  forage,  keep- 
ing them  properly  equipped  and  uniformed,  was  a  problem 
which  no  other  division  had  ever  gone  through  or  will 
have  to  in  the  future.  The  roads  were  in  frightful  condi- 
tion and  it  was  a  tremendous  task  to  get  supplies  over 
them. 

47 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

The  various  regiments  went  into  different  sectors  [said  Gen- 
eral Edwards],  and  when  the  green  battaUons  went  in  it  became 
the  duty  of  the  German  to  identify  them.  In  other  words, 
you  get  an  order  for  identification.  That  means  you  have  to 
send  out  a  raiding  party,  and  you  have  to  get  some  of  the  enemy 
and  make  them  talk,  telling  what  outfit  they  belong  to  and 
identifying  the  division,  the  battalion  and  the  regiment. 

This  was  called  a  quiet  sector  at  the  time.  The  French,  by 
a  brilliant  operation,  had  taken  the  Chemin  des  Dames  in  Oc- 
tober of  the  previous  year.  They  did  not  have  many  troops 
and  they  sat  dowTi  and  occupied  it.  The  system  of  defence  was 
a  series  of  coups  de  combats,  with  trenches  about  to  the  knee 
and  with  tangent  machine  guns  defending.  The  German  im- 
mediately felt  out  every  one  of  my  regiments.  The  104th  went 
into  this  difficult  place  and  the  Germans  put  down  a  heavy 
barrage  in  the  rear  of  these  groups  of  twenty  or  forty  men  with 
machine  guns.  The  idea  was  to  prevent  reserves  from  coming 
up,  and  in  the  meantime  rush  in,  gobble  up  the  men,  take  them 
home  and  say,  "Here  are  some  of  these  queer  Americans  we 
have  heard  about." 

The  barrage  was  put  down  on  those  "green"  men,  and  they 
did  not  even  lie  down.  They  crouched  in  their  holes,  with  high 
explosives  rattling  on  their  helmets  and  killing  several,  and 
when  the  barrage  was  lifted,  jumped  up  and  made  a  lot  of 
prisoners  of  the  Germans. 

The  Chemin  des  Dames  sector  was  considered  quiet 
by  the  French,  but  immediately  after  the  arrival  of  the 
New  Englanders  the  German  gave  them  a  baptism  of 
fire.  It  was  here  that  the  first  member  of  the  division 
to  become  a  victim  of  the  enemy  met  his  death  from  shell 
fire.  He  was  Corporal  John  J.  Crowley  of  the  signal 
platoon  of  the  101st  Infantry. 

During  their  six  weeks'  stay  in  the  Chemin  des  Dames 
sector,  where  previously  some  of  the  most  sanguinary 
actions  of  the  war  had  taken  place,  the  New  Englanders 

48 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

participated  in  and  repulsed  a  number  of  raids,  but  there 
were  no  really  large  engagements.  They  also  received  a 
trying  out  under  fire  which  proved  them  to  be  of  the  best 
soldier  material,  and  won  warm  words  of  praise  from  their 
French  comrades. 

General  Edwards  made  a  custom  of  always  preceding 
his  troops  into  a  new  sector  and  making  a  personal  recon- 
naissance of  the  front  to  be  taken  over.  As  a  result  of 
the  knowledge  thus  acquired,  he  three  times  counter- 
manded written  orders  when  emergencies  arose,  and  by 
means  of  verbal  directions  saved  his  troops  from  unneces- 
sary casualties. 

Despite  the  fact  that  his  action  was  opposed  by  the 
higher  command,  the  sturdy  old  fighter  persisted,  and 
the  results  always  justified  him.  In  this  way  he  saved 
the  lives  of  many  of  his  men,  and  demonstrated  the  fact 
that  practical  experience  is  superior  to  theory. 

In  this  sector  the  New  England  troops  were  sand- 
wiched in  between  French  outfits,  —  a  battalion  of 
French,  then  a  battalion  of  Americans,  and  so  on.  Raid- 
ing parties  were  made  up  of  men  from  both  armies, 
with  usually  a  French  officer  or  non-commissioned  officer 
acting  as  mentor  and  guide. 

On  St.  Valentine's  day,  after  the  Yankees  had  been  in 
action  for  a  week,  they  got  their  really  first  opportunity 
to  take  part  in  a  night  patrol.  An  order  came  through 
calling  for  a  patrol  made  up  of  20  Americans  and  20 
French,  the  whole  party  to  be  under  the  command  of  a 
French  ofiicer.  The  104th  Infantry,  which  was  holding 
this  particular  spot  with  a  French  regiment,  was  asked 
for  volunteers,  and  the  whole  outfit  volunteered  to  a 
man.  However,  only  20  could  be  taken,  and  Lieutenant 
James  W.  BrowTi  was  selected  to  lead  them. 

At  the  word  of  command  from  the  French  oflacer,  the 

49 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

party  wriggled  out  of  their  "fox-holes"  and  started 
across  No  Man's  Land.  They  had  orders  to  go  as  far  as 
the  German  wire,  and  if  possible  to  secure  prisoners. 

The  German  entanglements  were  reached  without  inci- 
dent, and  the  men  turned  back  after  looking  over  work 
which  had  recently  been  completed  by  the  enemy.  Part 
way  back  moving  figures  were  discovered  between  the 
party  and  their  own  lines.  Lieutenant  Brown  at  once 
ordered  his  men  to  lie  down  flat  and  open  fire.  The 
Germans,  for  so  they  turned  out  to  be,  replied.  The 
Americans  were  armed  with  automatic  pistols  and  rifles, 
and  their  French  comrades  with  rifles. 

After  about  half  an  hour  the  German  fire  died  down, 
and  the  Americans  and  French  started  slowly  forward. 
They  found  a  wounded  German  and  took  him  to  their 
own  lines,  where  he  died  a  short  time  later. 

In  the  meantime  Sergeant  John  L.  Latzig,  who  was 
out  on  the  flank  of  his  patrol,  in  company  with  a  French 
poilu,  saw  a  German  crawling  away  into  the  darkness. 
Latzig  jumped  on  the  German,  and  a  rough  and  tum- 
ble battle  took  place,  in  which  the  American  was  the 
victor. 

When  the  reconnoitring  patrol  reached  its  own  lines 
the  roll  was  called,  and  eight  men,  together  with  Sergeant 
Latzig,  were  missing.  Although  it  was  almost  daylight. 
Lieutenant  Brown  went  out  again  to  search  for  the  miss- 
ing men.  German  machine  guns  opened  up  on  him,  but 
by  diving  from  one  shell  hole  to  another  he  managed  to 
avoid  being  hit.  After  some  time  he  descried  a  moving 
party  which  turned  out  to  be  the  men  he  was  seeking. 

It  transpired  that  Latzig  had  started  his  prisoner  for 
what  he  believed  to  be  the  American  lines.  A  flare 
showed  that  he  was  heading  in  the  wrong  direction.  It 
also  showed  a  number  of  Americans  crouching  in  a  near-by 

50 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

shell  hole.  The  sergeant  took  command,  and  was  on  his 
way  in  when  the  lieutenant  met  him. 

For  this  act  both  the  lieutenant  and  sergeant  were 
awarded  the  coveted  Croix  de  Guerre. 

A  few  nights  later  the  Germans  came  over  in  a  raid 
directed  against  a  company  of  this  same  regiment  which 
had  come  in  for  the  first  of  its  six  days  in  the  front  line. 
Prior  to  the  raid  the  German  artillery  bombarded  the 
American  lines,  the  fire  waxing  hotter  until  at  10  o'clock 
it  was  intense.  In  a  short  time  it  ceased,  and  a  barrage 
was  laid  down  which  the  German  raiders  followed.  By 
the  bright  light  of  the  moon  the  Germans  were  seen  by 
the  Americans  passing  through  a  wood. 

When  they  reached  open  ground,  however,  the  enemy 
faltered  and  then  broke.  The  "green"  Americans,  fol- 
lowing a  terrific  bombardment,  were  waiting,  and  poured 
in  a  fire  which  demoralized  the  Germans. 

These  two  incidents,  which  were  typical  of  the  Yankee 
Division,  caused  French  commanders  to  shower  General 
Edwards  with  compliments. 

The  General's  headquarters  at  this  time  were  at  Court- 
trelles,  some  distance  behind  the  lines,  but  he  refused  to 
stay  in  them.  Accompanied  usually  by  his  aide.  Cap- 
tain "Nat"  Simpkins,  or  by  Major  Hyatt,  he  visited  the 
front  daily,  again  and  again  subjecting  himself  to  the 
enemy  fire.  At  all  times  he  kept  his  finger  on  the  divi- 
sional pulse,  dropping  into  regimental  "P.  C.s,"  or  posts 
of  command,  visiting  dressing  stations,  and  stopping  now 
and  then  for  a  few  words  of  praise  and  encouragement 
for  the  men.  On  two  occasions  horses  were  shot  by 
enemy  aviators  in  front  of  him.  In  describing  this  later, 
General  Edwards  said :  — 


51 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

We  were  being  bombed  every  night,  and  nothing  on  earth 
gets  on  your  nerves  like  bombing.  The  enemy  had  airplane 
superiority,  and  when  I  went  riding  on  my  horse,  as  I  did  with 
my  staff  officer,  we  always  agreed  whenever  an  airplane  came 
around  —  and  we  were  a  little  doubtful  whether  it  had  a  Ger- 
man cross  or  a  French  circle  on  the  fuselage  —  that  we  would 
take  cover.  He'd  ride  one  way  and  I  another,  and  then  we 
would  tumble  from  our  mounts  and  roll  into  the  woods.  We 
had  to  do  that  three  times.  The  aviators  would  come  over, 
see  some  one  on  a  good-looking  horse,  and  turn  loose  with  their 
machine  guns.    I  had  two  horses  killed  right  in  front  of  me. 

They  also  attacked  our  balloons,  and  it  was  a  commoa  sight 
to  see  French  observers  jumping  with  parachutes  and  come 
floating  do\sTi,  depending  upon  the  wind  to  take  them  over  the 
line. 

An  interesting  story  is  told  exemplifying  the  attitude 
of  the  men  in  regard  to  General  Edwards'  custom  of 
visiting  the  trenches.  One  day  at  Chemin  des  Dames 
the  General  made  an  inspection  of  the  line.  After  he  had 
gone,  Major  Hammond  of  the  104th  Infantry  decided  he 
would  go  through  and  see  what  had  happened. 

In  the  trenches  he  came  upon  a  spectacle  which 
astounded  him.  A  "buck"  private  was  standing,  first 
on  one  foot  and  then  on  the  other,  vigorously  wiping  the 
mud  from  his  shoes  on  his  breeches  and  coat. 

An  irate  sergeant,  who  had  also  witnessed  the  perfonn- 
ance,  suddenly  rushed  up  and  profanely  demanded  to 
know  what  the  private  was  doing.  "Are  you  crazy?" 
he  asked.  "No,"  replied  the  "doughboy"  solemnly, 
"but  I'm  damned  if  I'll  let  any  General  come  through 
here  with  more  mud  on  him  than  I've  got  on  me." 

In  this  sector  the  104  th  was  holding  the  line  at  Bois 
Quincy,  about  February  9  or  10,  when  on  the  third  night 
the  Germans  attempted  to  put  over  a  big  raid.     There 

52 


Brigadier-General  John  A.  Sherburne 


International  Film  Service,  Inc. 

Officers  of  101st  Regiment  Infantry,  Beaumont,  France,  May  6,  1918 


rfia-  ^"^    ~      .J  i"^ 


Billets  of  Company  C,  101st  Ammunition  Train,  France 


J 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

were  no  trenches  at  this  place,  nothing  but  fox-holes  and 
heaps  of  mud  at  the  outer  edges  of  the  woods.  The 
kitchens  in  the  woods  were  on  top  of  the  ground  instead 
of  underneath  it,  while  officers  and  men  lived  in  shacks. 
The  Germans  put  down  an  intense  barrage  and  then  the 
raiding  troops  came  over.  They  were  repulsed  with 
losses,  while  the  Yankees  had  only  one  wounded.  The 
following  day  Captain  Hyatt  went  through  the  woods 
and  found  that  the  ground  was  literally  peppered  with 
holes,  and  the  whole  place  torn  up.  He  never  could 
understand  how  the  New  Englanders  had  escaped  with- 
out more  casualties. 

Late  in  February  a  big  raid  was  started  by  picked 
German  troops,  who  were  brought  to  the  front  in  covered 
camions,  or  trucks.  Following  a  violent  barrage,  which 
began  at  9  o'clock  of  an  extremely  dark  night,  and  which 
lasted  half  an  hour,  the  Germans  crossed  the  canal 
which  divided  the  lines  at  this  part  of  the  front.  The 
enemy  split  into  three  parties. 

One  made  a  feint  attack  to  draw  the  fire  of  the  Ameri- 
cans and  French;  a  second  crept  noiselessly  straight 
across  No  Man's  Land;  while  the  third  swung  to  the 
right  and  attempted  a  flanking  movement  on  the  out- 
posts. The  watchful  Yankees  soon  discovered  what  was 
taking  place,  and  with  a  withering  machine-gun  fire 
broke  up  the  attack.  The  picked  German  troops  were 
unable  to  stand  the  intense  fire  and  retreated. 

Prior  to  the  beginning  of  this  attack  an  American  wir- 
ing party,  consisting  of  32  men,  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant  Ralph  Bishop  of  the  101st  Infantry,  with  a 
French  sergeant  as  guide,  had  gone  out  into  No  Man's 
Land.  Loaded  with  rolls  of  barbed  wire  and  stakes  they 
were  busily  engaged  when  the  barrage  began  to  drop 
around   them.     Lieutenant   Bishop   ran   along   the   line, 

53 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

getting  his  men  into  small  groups  and  ordering  them  into 
shell  holes.  Then  he  made  his  way  through  both  Gennan 
and  American  barrages  to  his  own  lines,  and  reported  to 
the  French  officer  who  was  in  charge  of  the  wire  laying. 
Again  the  young  officer  passed  through  the  rain  of  shells, 
and  ordered  back  all  the  men  he  could  find.  The  central 
party  of  German  raiders  had  in  the  meantime  passed  the 
Americans  without  seeing  them. 

Lieutenant  Bishop  did  not  find  all  his  men,  and  was 
himself  forced  to  join  the  last  group  who  shot  their  way 
back.  On  the  way  Bishop  saw  a  badly  wounded  man. 
Taking  two  of  his  party  he  went  out,  found  a  stretcher, 
got  the  wounded  man,  and  carried  him  to  a  dressing 
station. 

When  the  lieutenant  left  his  own  lines  to  go  back 
through  the  barrage  the  third  time  Sergeant  Eric  S.  Olsen 
and  Corporal  Earl  H.  Sanderson  went  back  after  him. 
All  three  were  recommended  for  the  Distinguished  Sei*v- 
ice  Cross. 

By  the  time  the  Yankees  left  this  sector  a  large  number 
had  been  recommended  for  Distinguished  Service  Crosses 
and  Medals,  and  a  respectable-sized  group  had  been 
awarded  the  French  War  Cross. 

During  this  time  the  division  had  suffered  very  few 
casualties,  and  but  twelve  men  had  been  sent  to  the  hos- 
pital with  gas  poisoning.  This  was  a  remarkable  testi- 
monial to  the  efficiency  and  morale  of  the  men,  —  a 
morale  which  had  been  built  up  by  General  Edwards 
without  the  long  months  of  training  considered  so  neces- 
sary by  the  majority  of  Regular  Army  officers. 

There  had  already  been  many  changes  in  the  divisional 
personnel.  Officers  had  been  relieved  and  transferred, 
and  other  officers  had  been  made  from  the  ranks.  Cap- 
tain Hyatt  was  succeeded  as  G-2  by  IVIajor  Mackall,  a 

54 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

stranger  to  the  division,  who  had  been  sent  over  from  the 
States  and  who  had  had  no  experience.  In  January 
Colonel  Shelton  had  been  relieved  as  chief  of  staff,  and 
succeeded  by  Colonel  Dowell,  while  Major  Maback,  the 
G-3  of  the  division,  was  later  succeeded  by  Colonel  Knieger. 

These  changes  were  made  by  general  headquarters  at 
Chaumont,  and  the  policy  was  continued  to  the  end. 
They  constituted  a  great  annoyance  to  General  Edwards, 
who  would  no  sooner  get  a  man  on  whom  he  relied  in  a 
position,  when  an  inexperienced  Regular  Army  officer 
would  be  sent  to  relieve  him.  In  some  cases  such  an 
officer  might  have  attended  the  Staff  College  for  a  time, 
and  having  absorbed  a  quantity  of  theories,  was  con- 
sidered to  be  perfectly  capable  of  taking  over  the  work. 

One  other  incident  at  Chemin  des  Dames  is  worthy  of 
being  recorded,  as  it  exemplified  the  spirit  of  self-sacrifice 
and  desire  to  "play  the  game"  of  every  member  of  the 
division. 

During  a  German  attack  grenades  were  being  handed 
to  a  squad  of  bombers  by  Corporal  Homer  J.  Wheaton 
of  the  101st  Infantry,  a  former  Worcester  newspaper- 
man. These  bombs  were  prepared  by  hitting  the  detona- 
tors, after  which  the  bomber  heaved  it  with  a  stiff-arm 
motion  at  the  enemy.  After  the  detonator  is  set  off  it  is 
but  five  seconds  until  the  bomb  explodes.  Wheaton  had 
an  armful  of  bombs,  which  he  was  handing  out,  when 
one  of  them  dropped  to  the  ground  and  struck  on  the 
detonator.  The  corporal  saw  it  fall,  and  in  a  flash  realized 
that  an  explosion  would  kill  a  large  number  of  his  own 
comrades.  Without  the  slightest  hesitancy  he  gently 
deposited  the  bombs  he  held  in  his  arms,  and,  leaping 
forward,  smothered  the  grenade  on  the  ground  with  his 
body.  The  explosion  took  place,  but  Wheaton  was  the 
only  man  killed. 

55 


CHAPTER  VI 
Yankee  Spirit  Amazes  the  French 

WTiile  the  infantry  and  artillery  were  getting  their 
training  under  fire,  the  other  units  of  the  division  were 
also  learning  rapidly.  They  also  were  under  fire,  but 
were  unable  to  fight  back.  Supply  and  ammunition 
trains  were  continually  coming  up  to  the  front  over  roads 
which  were  plotted  out  on  German  artillery  maps,  and 
which  were  swept  by  shell  fire. 

The  engineers  were  engaged  in  laying  narrow-gauge 
railroad  tracks,  m.achine-gun  emplacements,  barbed-wire 
systems,  dugouts,  excavations  and  .trenches,  frequently 
under  direct  fire  from  the  enemy. 

The  engineer  regiment  was  split  up,  even  companies 
being  divided,  so  that  it  was  extremely  diflScult  for 
Colonel  Bunnell  to  keep  in  touch  with  all  units.  How- 
ever, he  not  only  succeeded  in  doing  this,  but  with  the 
assistance  of  French  instructors  brought  his  outfit  up  to 
a  high  state  of  efficiency. 

The  men  displayed  the  same  fighting  spirit  that  ani- 
mated the  other  members  of  the  division,  and  were 
always  glad  to  lay  down  their  picks  and  shovels  in  favor 
of  the  rifle. 

Later  on,  when  casualties  were  heavy,  volunteers 
would  be  called  for  to  bury  the  dead.  On  these  occasions 
the  regiment  volunteered  to  a  man,  although  as  it  fre- 
quently happened,  they  had  been  working  tirelessly  for 
days. 

The  same  thing  was  true  of  the  signal  troops,  hospital 
corps  and  ambulance  men.    In  fact,  every  member  of  the 

56 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

division  was  always  ready  to  volunteer  for  extra  duty, 
and  incidents  occurred  when  men  of  the  S.  O.  S.  walked 
miles  for  an  opportunity  of  begging  some  officer  to  allow 
them  to  get  into  the  fight. 

The  French  had  attempted  to  impress  on  the  Ameri- 
cans the  folly  of  volunteering  for  patrol  duty,  declaring 
"it  is  not  good."  There  never  was  a  time  when  volun- 
teers were  called  for  to  go  out  on  patrol  but  that  every 
man  in  the  Yankee  Division  who  knew  about  it  insisted 
that  he  be  one  of  those  picked. 

This  spirit  amazed  the  French,  who  had  been  through 
three  years  of  the  most  terrible  warfare,  and  realized  the 
value  of  conserving  lives. 

Lieutenant  Edward  Hutchins  of  the  lO^d  Field  Artil- 
lery is  the  son  of  Mrs.  Susan  Hutchins  of  Beacon  Street, 
Back  Bay,  a  cousin  of  General  Edwards.  Before  the 
division  left  for  France  Mrs.  Hutchins  charged  the  Gen- 
eral with  the  welfare  of  her  boy,  and  told  him  to  be  sure 
and  see  that  "Ed"  did  not  run  into  any  unnecessary 
danger.  The  General  agreed,  and  then,  owing  to  the  mul- 
tiplicity of  his  duties,  promptly  forgot  the  entire  matter. 

It  was  recalled  to  his  mind  forcibly  on  the  Chemin 
des  Dames,  when  he  and  Captain  Hyatt  rode  over  to 
the  aviation  camp  one  day.  There  they  met  Lieutenant 
Hutchins.  "What  are  you  doing,  Ed.?"  asked  the  General, 
after  the  usual  amenities.  "Oh,"  replied  the  youth, 
carelessly,  "I'm  doing  observation  work  in  airplanes." 
"My  God,"  groaned  General  Edwards,  "what  will  I  tell 
Susie  .f*"  For  be  it  known  that  artillery  observation  from 
aircraft  is  probably  one  of  the  most  dangerous  jobs  in  the 
service. 

While  in  this  sector  the  men  of  the  division  saw  their 
first  German  airship  brought  down.  It  was  reached  by 
the  anti-aircraft  guns  of  the  French  at  a  height  of  2,000 

57 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

feet.  The  machine  broke  in  two,  the  pilot  and  observer 
fell  out,  and  the  wrecked  craft  dropped  to  the  ground 
behind  the  allied  lines.  The  Germans  were  almost  bur- 
ied in  the  ground,  so  tremendous  was  the  force  of  their 
fall.  They  were  the  first  German  dead  the  Americans 
had  seen,  and  as  a  result  the  New  Englanders  were  some- 
what awed.  The  French,  on  the  other  hand,  were  unaf- 
fected, except  that  they  were  pleased  that  two  more  of 
the  enemy  had  ended  their  ability  to  make  trouble. 
Captain  Hyatt,  who  was  one  of  the  first  on  the  spot, 
secured  a  map  and  pieces  of  the  wrecked  plane. 

The  Chemin  des  Dames,  or  "Road  of  the  Ladies,"  is 
a  famous  highway  that  runs  along  the  top  of  a  ridge. 
When  the  Americans  went  into  this  sector  the  highway 
had  not  been  used  since  the  beginning  of  the  war,  owing  to 
the  fact  that  it  was  in  full  sight  of  the  guns  of  both  parties. 

Shortly  after  arrival.  General  Edwards  wished  to  go  to 
the  headquarters  of  Colonel  Hume,  which  was  located 
at  Vaudesson.  Captain  "Nat"  Simpkins,  the  General's 
aide,  declared  confidently  that  he  could  find  the  place 
with  the  aid  of  a  map.  The  two  climbed  into  the  Gen- 
eral's big  limousine,  driven  by  Sergeant  Shea,  and  started. 

Apparently  Captain  Simpkins'  knowledge  of  map  read- 
ing was  somev/hat  faulty,  for  the  party  drove  out  boldly 
on  the  Chemin  des  Dames,  and  proceeded  jauntily  down 
that  highway  under  the  eyes  of  the  German  gunners.  At 
first  the  enemy  was  so  astounded  by  this  spectacle  that 
he  did  nothing.  In  a  short  time,  however,  he  recovered, 
and  began  sending  over  shells  which  landed  in  close  prox- 
imity to  the  car.  General  Edwards  leaned  forward  to 
tell  the  driver  to  go  away  from  there,  but  it  was  not 
necessary.  Later  Captain  Hyatt  asked  Sergeant  Shea  if 
the  shells  were  falling  close  to  the  car.  "I  don't  really 
know,"  replied  Shea,  "I  was  too  busy  feeding  her  gas." 

58 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Vaudesson,  Colonel  Hume's  headquarters,  had  been  a 
town,  but  at  this  tune  there  was  no  semblance  of  a  build- 
ing and  no  cellars.  "It  was  the  worst  shot-up  town  I 
ever  saw,"  said  Captain  Hyatt.  "There  was  not  even  a 
little  pile  of  rock  left.  In  a  year  or  so,  when  the  grass 
has  grown  up,  it  will  be  impossible  to  tell  that  the  town 
ever  existed." 

The  French  were  accustomed  to  going  on  raids  and 
patrols  without  rifles.  They  used  knives,  grenades  and 
bombs.  General  Edwards  insisted  that  the  Americans 
carry  rifles  and  pistols  at  all  times. 

In  the  latter  part  of  February  the  101st  Infantry  sent 
over  40  men  and  the  French  contributed  40  men,  all 
commanded  by  a  French  officer.  The  Yankees  used  rifles, 
and  the  party  invaded  the  Gennan  trenches,  capturing 
23  prisoners,  including  2  officers.  The  American  forces 
had  not  a  single  casualty.  The  French  had  six.  Fifteen 
New  Englanders  received  the  Croix  de  Guerre  for  their 
share  in  this  raid.  It  was  noticed  that  all  the  prisoners 
were  displaying  black  eyes,  which  apparently  had  been 
acquired  during  the  struggle  in  their  trenches. 

The  use  of  the  rifle  on  this  raid  brought  a  comment 
from  General  de  Maud  'Huy,  which  was  extremely  com- 
plunentary.  He  said  that  the  French  soldiers  had  for- 
gotten how  to  use  the  rifle,  and  must  learn  again  to  use 
it  like  the  Americans,  who  had  given  a  lesson  to  the 
French. 

During  this  raid  the  101st  Machine  Gun  Battalion 
helped  put  across  a  box  barrage  by  indirect  fire.  This 
also  brought  a  letter  from  General  de  Maud  'Huy,  as  it 
was  the  first  time  that  machine  guns  had  been  used  in 
co-operation  with  the  artillery  in  putting  down  a  box 
barrage. 

In  this  sector  the  German  had  almost  entire  superi- 

59 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

ority  in  the  air.  Gennan  airplanes  used  machine  guns  on 
the  roads,  and  flev/  low  over  the  trenches,  spraying  them 
with  bullets.  One  day  General  Edwards  was  riding  with 
Captain  Hyatt  v/hen  a  wagon  train  appeared  on  the  road 
ahead  of  them.  Suddenly  a  German  plane  dropped  out 
of  the  clouds,  and,  flying  only  about  a  hundred  yards 
above  the  road,  opened  up  with  a  machine  gun,  killing 
several  horses.    Not  a  shot  was  fired  in  return. 

During  the  big  raid  on  Paris  a  German  bombing  plane 
was  brought  down  in  the  sector  occupied  by  the  104th 
Infantry.  Captain  Hartwell,  the  supply  officer,  and 
several  of  the  men  saw  the  descending  light  and  followed 
it.  The  machine  had  hardly  struck  the  ground  when  the 
captain  pulled  his  pistol  and  called  on  the  occupants  to 
surrender.  There  were  four  men  in  the  Gotha,  all  officers 
and  all  uninjured.  They  refused  to  talk  to  the  Ameri- 
can intelligence  officers  and  were  turned  over  to  the 
French. 

Captain  Hyatt,  being  curious,  the  next  day  strolled 
over  to  French  headquarters  where  he  learned  that  the 
Germans'  whole  story  had  been  secured.  One  of  the 
Germans  was  commander  of  the  squadron  which  attacked 
Paris.  He  told  where  they  came  from  and  furnished  the 
order  under  which  they  were  acting.  They  still  had  two 
bombs  of  300  kilos  which  they  had  intended  to  drop  on 
the  American  and  French  lines.  They  told  their  captors 
that  the  French  barrage  around  Paris  was  so  intense  that 
they  were  unable  to  penetrate  it.  The  Americans  never 
had  any  further  trouble  in  securing  information  from 
prisoners. 

When  the  Yankees  had  entered  the  sector  they  found 
that  a  sort  of  truce  was  maintained  during  the  day. 
French  and  German  soldiers  had  washed  clothes  in  the 
canal  at  the  same  time,  and  it  had  been  customary  for 

60 


Colonel  Frank  M.  Hume 


Colonel  Frank  M.  Hume  and  StaS 


International  Film  Service,  Inc. 

Engineers  of  Twenty-sixth  Division  supplying  Field  Artillery  with 

Munitions,  France 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 

the  men  of  both  sides  to  move  about  freely  outside  the 
trenches. 

The  New  Englanders  could  not  understand  this  state 
of  affairs,  and  thej'  called  down  the  wrath  of  both  sides 
by  opening  fire  on  the  first  Germans  they  saw.  During 
this  time  one  sniper  of  the  103d  Regiment  averaged  one 
German  each  day. 

About  the  middle  of  March  General  Edwards  received 
orders  to  move  the  division  to  the  Bar-sur-AuEe  area, 
where  it  was  scheduled  for  a  big  advance  problem.  The 
division  had  completed  its  front  line  training  much  more 
quickly  than  had  been  expected,  and  the  French  were 
enthusiastic. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  brotherly  spirit  existing  between 
the  two  armies,  General  de  Maud  'Huy,  commanding  the 
Eleventh  French  Army  Corps,  issued  the  following 
order:  — 

Eleventh  Army  Corps,  Staff, 
Headquarters,  March  15,  1918. 

No.  9114  B-1, 

S.  C.  No.  4817. 
General  Orders,  No.  7. 

We  regret  that  our  comrades  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division 
should  leave  us  in  order  to  fulfill  their  task  elsewhere. 

We  have  been  able  to  appreciate  their  bravery,  their  sense 
of  duty  and  discipline,  also  their  frank  comradeship;  they 
carry  away  our  unanimous  regrets. 

General  Edwards  has  been  pleased  to  consider  the  Eleventh 
Corps  as  godfather  to  the  Twenty-sixth  Division;  the  Eleventh 
Corps  feels  proud  of  the  awarded  honor,  being  sure  that,  wher- 
ever he  may  be  sent,  the  godson  shall  do  credit  to  the  godfather. 

Le  General  de  Maud  'Huy, 
Commandant  le  lime  Corps  d'Arm^e. 


61 


CHAPTER  VII 
Move  to  Start  a  Big  Drive 

The  division  started  out  on  March  20.  On  the  21st  the 
big  Boche  offensive  began.  A  few  days  before  the  Ger- 
mans had  put  over  a  gas  bombardment  which  lasted  thirty- 
six  hours.  This  was  concentrated  mostly  on  the  102d 
Infantry.  The  men  wore  their  masks  five  or  six  hours, 
and  the  gas  discipline  was  so  good  that  the  division  had 
only  250  casualties. 

The  German  long-range  guns  shelled  the  railroads  and 
bombed  the  towns  through  which  the  Yankees  passed  on 
their  way  south.  It  was  difficult  to  move  during  the 
day.  It  was  at  this  time  that  Major  H.  B.  Estes  of 
the  101st  Engineers  and  Lieutenant  Ralph  Hopkins  of  the 
101st  Supply  Company  won  decorations  for  sticking  to 
the  job  of  entraining  and  loading  supplies  under  the  most 
intense  fire. 

The  infantry  entrained  at  Soissons  and  Brisnes,  and 
proceeded  down  to  the  area  around  Bar-sur-Aube.  The 
artillery,  ammunition  train  and  other  mobile  units  went 
over  the  road.  The  division  was  concentrated  in  the  area 
about  the  23d  or  24th. 

Before  he  left  the  Chemin  des  Dames  the  General  had 
received  orders  to  hold  maneuvers  at  Bar-sur-iVube  for 
the  solving  of  practical  problems.  They  were  to  advance 
against  the  Forty-second  Division,  and  plans  were  com- 
pleted and  about  to  be  put  into  operation  when  they 
were  called  off  on  account  of  the  Boche  offensive.    The 

62 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

division  was  then  marched  overland  to  the  training  area 
around  Ruynel,  where  division  headquarters  were  located 
for  two  days. 

This  territory  had  not  felt  the  hand  of  the  great  rav- 
ager,  War.  The  houses  were  whole  and  inhabited  by 
warm-hearted  French  peasants,  who  fed  the  men  to  reple- 
tion with  fresh  vegetables,  milk  and  eggs.  There  were 
also  streams  of  fresh  water  in  which  the  men  might  bathe, 
and  the  two  days  spent  there  were  reminiscent  of  home 
to  the  Yankees  after  their  six  weeks  in  the  Chemin  des 
Dames  sector.  The  inevitable  rain  was  also  absent,  and 
the  sun  shone  brightly. 

During  this  time  the  men  of  the  division  were  visited 
by  Secretary  of  War  Newton  D.  Baker.  The  secretary 
made  but  a  brief  stay,  and  did  not  interfere  with  routine 
by  having  the  men  turned  out  for  inspection. 

A  short  time  later  the  Massachusetts  Commission, 
composed  of  Lieutenant-Governor  Louis  Frothingham, 
Charles  W.  Baxter  and  Dr.  John  Coughlin  of  Fall  River, 
arrived.  They  visited  the  Massachusetts  boys,  and  took 
messages  for  their  friends  and  relatives  at  home. 

Two  days  after  the  division  was  concentrated  in  this 
area  order  was  received  to  proceed  to  the  Toul  sector 
and  relieve  the  First  Division,  part  of  which  was  in  that 
line,  and  a  French  division.  On  the  day  of  the  move  the 
orders  were  changed  nine  different  times.  Everybody 
was  up  in  the  air.  The  order  indicated  an  emergency 
which  necessitated  the  movement  of  many  of  the  infantry 
units  by  motor  bus,  while  the  annuals,  supply  company 
wagons,  and  equipment  were  marched  over  the  road 
with  the  artillery  and  other  divisional  units. 

The  big  German  drive  of  March  21  had  started,  and 
was  sweeping  along  as  though  nothing  in  the  world  could 
stop  it.    It  was  vitally  necessary  that  the  troops  be  placed 

63 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

in  the  Toul  sector  to  relieve  the  French  who  had  been 
holding  it  with  a  part  of  the  First  Division. 

Though  the  men  had  been  able  to  secure  but  two  days* 
rest,  they  set  off  on  their  long  journey  with  the  custom- 
ary, "C'est  la  guerre."  Rain  and  snow  fell  alternately, 
and  the  weather  was  cold,  while  at  times  it  was  impos- 
sible to  bring  up  supplies  to  every  organization.  The 
mix-up  in  orders  had  prevented  any  real  plan  for  supply 
being  made,  and  the  result  was  that  sometimes  both  men 
and  animals  missed  a  meal. 

The  men  stood  tlie  discomforts  of  the  journey  remark- 
ably well,  and  the  division  reached  the  Toul  sector  on  the 
last  day  of  March,  immediately  starting  the  relief  of  the 
First  Division  and  the  French  troops. 

There  had  been  so  many  changes  in  orders,  and  the 
various  movements  had  to  be  executed  so  quickly,  that 
all  orders  regarding  supply  were  given  verbally.  As  a 
result  there  was  some  confusion  in  the  sector.  Some  of 
the  infantry  units  of  the  Twenty-sixth,  due  to  their 
movement  over  the  road  by  bus,  were  separated  from 
their  transport,  for  several  days.  Advance  preparations 
had  been  made  for  their  supply  in  the  new  sector.  It 
becam^e  necessary  to  send  up  truck  companies  immedi- 
ately to  establish  a  quartermaster  depot  at  the  First 
Division  railliead,  from  which  supplies  were  drawn  daily. 

The  relief  of  the  First  Division  by  the  Twenty-sixth 
has  been  the  subject  of  comment.  There  were  two  inex- 
perienced officers,  perhaps  prejudiced,  who  made  a  report 
of  this  relief,  much  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  Twenty- 
sixth.  This  report  was  read  at  the  General  Staff  School 
at  Langres,  and  while  the  designations  of  the  two  divi- 
sions were  not  mentioned,  being  referred  to  as  "X"  and 
"Y"  divisions,  the  nature  of  the  report  clearly  indicated 
that  the  First  and  Twenty-sixth  were  meant. 

64 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

According  to  authorities,  the  report  the  two  officers 
made  was  unfair  in  every  detail  and  showed  prejudice. 
It  was  also  said  to  have  been  proved  by  the  report  that 
the  two  officers  lacked  the  experience  which  would  have 
justified  them  in  any  criticism. 

After  the  relief  was  completed  the  Twenty-sixth  occu- 
pied a  front  extending  about  18  kilometers,  which  had 
previously  been  held  by  one  infantry  brigade  of  the 
First  Division  and  a  full  French  division.  Therefore  the 
Twenty-sixth  was  the  first  American  division  to  occupy 
a  sector  as  a  division. 

On  April  3  the  First  Division  was  entirely  relieved,  and 
General  Edwards  was  given  command  of  the  sector. 
It  was  the  first  time  that  the  division  was  in  line  by 
itself  and  under  the  control  of  its  own  officers. 

It  was  fairly  quiet  here,  with  a  little  artillery  strafing 
at  meal  times.  At  breakfast,  dinner  and  supper  the 
Boche  would  send  over  a  few  gas  and  high  explosive 
shells  in  an  endeavor  to  put  the  kitchens  out  of  business. 

The  104th  Infantry  was  occupying  a  salient  between 
Apremont,  inclusive,  and  Bois  Brule  to  Bussons,  at  the 
foot  of  Mont  Sec.  This  sector  was  on  a  level  plain  of  flat, 
marshy  land  from  Apremont  up  to  Flirey.  The  only  ele- 
vation occupied  by  the  Twenty-sixth  was  Beaumont 
Ridge.  There  was  a  bend  in  the  road  leading  to  Beau- 
mont which  was  called  Dead  Man's  Curve.  The  Ger- 
mans held  Mont  Sec  and  the  heights  of  the  Meuse  River. 
They  were  able  to  overlook  the  Yankee  sector  and  could 
see  directly  into  the  lines.  Every  one  hated  Mont  Sec  and 
the  men  would  gladly  have  rushed  it,  but  were  not  per- 
mitted to  do  so.  The  German  salient  protruded  into  the 
allied  lines  like  a  sore  thumb. 

When  the  Boche  captured  Mont  Sec  the  French  lost 
10,000  men.     The  hill  was  honeycombed  with  concrete 

65 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

dugouts,  machine-gun  emplacements  and  observation 
posts. 

WTien  the  French  occupied  the  sector  the  Germans 
made  strong  attacks  when  their  morale  was  low  and  cap- 
tured numbers  of  prisoners.  The  next  day  the  German 
communique  would  call  it  a  victory. 

To  the  left  of  this  wide  sector  was  a  salient  in  the  Bois 
Brule,  or  Apremont  Woods,  where  the  French  had  lost  a 
great  many  men,  and  where  the  Germans  frequently  took 
prisoners.  General  Marchand  of  Fiishoda  fame,  who  was 
in  command  of  the  division  on  the  left,  afterwards  told 
General  Edwards  that  three  times  the  Germans  had 
attacked  the  salient  and  taken  the  garrison.  As  General 
Edwards  described  it :  — 

The  Toul  sector  we  were  in  was  a  marsh.  On  the  left  were  the 
heights  of  the  Meuse,  with  Apremont  on  our  right,  the  salient 
extending  down  to  the  Bois  Brule,  in  front  of  Luneville,  a 
wood  in  a  marsh,  and  all  under  the  smashing  fire  of  the  Boche 
artillery.  At  Bois  Brule  there  was  an  entering  curve  on  a 
high  mountain,  and  the  place  opposite  where  I  had  to  put  a 
battalion  had  sixteen  minnenwerfer.  They  have  a  normal 
range  of  600  yards,  and  they  could  smash  down  on  the  advance 
trenches  and  do  terrible  damage.  General  Marchand  of  the 
famous  Fashoda  incident  was  there,  and  he  quietly  told  me 
that  he  had  been  there  about  three  years.  He  said  that  every 
time  the  Boche  morale  was  low  all  the  enemy  had  to  do  was 
to  put  a  barrage  beyond  his  front  trenches,  come  over  and  take 
some  prisoners.    That  was  the  prospect. 

I  put  Colonel  Shelton,  who  had  been  placed  in  command  of 
the  104th  Infantry,  in  that  awful  hole.  I  put  the  102d  in  the 
Bois  Remiry,  and  I  put  the  101st  in  Rombacour,  right  between 
the  two  of  them.  The  sector  had  never  been  organized;  it  had 
never  been  wired;  it  was  two  and  a  half  times  the  size  of  an 
ordinary  sector. 

And  this  green  division  went  in  and  took  over  that  sector  as 

66 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

the  first  independent  thing  they  ever  did.  Everybody  told  me 
it  was  the  worst  place  on  the  western  front;  that  more  French- 
men had  been  killed  there  than  was  necessary.  Behind  that, 
a  little  way,  was  the  famous  fort  of  Luneville,  about  which 
there  was  a  good  deal  of  sentiment,  like  the  Toul  fort. 

Dominating  the  entire  sector  was  Mont  See,  held  by 
the  Germans,  which  will  never  be  forgotten  by  those  who 
took  part  in  these  battles.  Whatever  was  attempted  by 
the  Americans  and  French  came  directly  under  the  view 
of  the  Boche  observers  at  Mont  Sec. 

As  was  customary,  General  Edwards  went  down  and 
made  a  personal  examination  of  the  sector.  When  he 
saw  the  position  held  by  Colonel  Shelton  he  ordered  him 
to  pull  his  troops  back  from  the  front  line.  The  French 
corps  commander  demurred  to  this  proceeding,  but  Gen- 
eral Edwards  insisted  that  his  order  be  carried  out.  He 
declared  that  he  was  responsible  to  his  own  conscience 
which  would  not  permit  him  to  sacrifice  his  men  unneces- 
sarily. He  asserted  that  the  G^nnans  could  cut  oflF  the 
entire  salient  and  capture  the  biggest  part  of  the  men  of 
the  104th. 

The  French  commander  said  that  the  Germans  would 
come  over  and  occupy  that  trench  if  the  Americans  gave 
it  up.  Edwards  replied:  "That's  just  what  we  want 
them  to  do.  If  they  come  over  we'll  lick  hell  out  of 
them." 

That  is  exactly  what  happened.  The  Germans  came 
over,  and  the  New  Englanders  withdrew  and  allowed  them 
to  occupy  the  front  line  at  Chauveau,  as  this  particular 
spot  was  known.  Then,  w^ith  wild  cheers,  the  Yankees 
fell  on  the  Boche  with  their  bayonets ;  killed  a  large  num- 
ber, took  about  forty  prisoners,  and  drove  the  enemy 
back  to  his  own  lines. 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

General  Edwards  described  it  in  these  words :  — 

The  second  night  we  were  there  the  Boche  attacked  after  put- 
ting down  a  barrage.  My  men  did  as  they  were  told  and  ran 
back.  The  Boche  advanced,  as  the  French  thought  they  would. 
They  filled  up  the  Chauveau  front,  and  when  they  lifted  the  bar- 
rage, without  any  order,  the  platoons  of  the  104th  Infantry  got  up, 
and,  singing  "Hail,  Hail,  the  Gang's  All  Here,"  went  after  them. 

At  the  same  time  Colonel  Sherburne  dropped  a  smashing 
American  barrage  on  the  Chauveau  front  with  his  75s.  He 
lifted  it  and  allowed  the  Yankees  to  go  ahead.  They  went 
ahead,  driving  the  Boche  before  them.  They  charged  up  the  hill 
into  the  front  line  German  trenches,  overrunning  their  objec- 
tives, and  had  to  be  called  back. 

The  plan  of  defence  of  the  French  on  the  left  warranted  a 
fall  back.  The  liaison  between  the  Second  Division  was  not 
complete,  and  the  Tenth  Colonial  Division  fell  right  back  and 
exposed  the  flanlcs  of  the  104th  Infantry.  The  enemy  curled 
round  and  got  in  behind  it.  The  second  day  they  brought  up 
700  shock  troops,  because  the  first  time  we  had  licked  them  and 
had  taken  the  first  prisoners  that  had  been  taken  in  Apremont 
for  six  months.  Each  lad  got  1,000  francs  reward  for  taking 
those  prisoners,  which  belonged  to  the  Fifth  German  Landwehr. 

I  am  getting  a  little  ahead  of  my  story.  Two  days  after 
they  brought  up  700  shock  troops,  together  with  two  other 
battalions,  and  they  said:  "We  will  show  these  Americans." 
They  came  down  again  and  got  in  behind  our  flanks.  Our 
men  did  the  same  thing  again.  And  as  soon  as  they  had  chucked 
the  Boche  out  of  one  place  they  would  whack  him  in  another. 
The  lieutenants  did  not  have  to  do  anything.  The  sergeants 
would  get  up  and  indicate:  "Follow  me."  They  didn't  say 
it,  because  they  could  not  have  been  heard  above  the  shells. 

And  those  men  fought  there  for  five  days  around  Hill  320 
in  front  of  Apremont.  They  wiped  out  the  700  Germans,  made 
40  prisoners  and  buried  200  Boches.  The  French  Army  com- 
mander cited  117  men  of  the  104th  and  they  got  the  Croix  de 
Guerre  m  a  very  impressive  ceremony  when  they  were  with- 

68 


Harris  &  Erviug 


Lieutenant-Colonel  Andrew  L.  Pendleton 


Number  of  155  m.m.  French  Guns  at  Valdahon,  France 


American  Soldiers  being  rushed  to  the  Front  in  France 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

drawn.  They  also  pinned  the  Croix  de  Guerre  on  the  colors 
of  the  regiment,  and  I  don't  know  that  that  ever  occurred  before. 

During  the  engagement  General  Marchand  was  down  in 
the  post  of  the  Italian  command.  The  French  corps  com- 
mander was  at  my  headquarters,  and  the  French  Army  com- 
mander visited  me  three  times  that  day.  He  told  me  an  old 
observer  who  had  been  at  Laonville  for  four  years  said  that  we 
were  whipped;  that  we  had  lost  Hill  222;  and  that  he  could 
understand  why.  I  laughed  at  him  and  smoked  a^cigarette. 
It  was  very  natural. 

A  new  French  division  came  to  us  about  which  we  knew 
nothing,  and  at  the  end  of  the  thing  the  officer  said  that  it  was 
about  as  game  an  action  as  he  ever  saw.  It  was  the  first  time 
that  troops  had  ever  won  in  that  sector,  and  from  that  time  on 
we  absolutely  owned  No  Man's  Land. 

This  general  of  the  Thirty-seventh  Division  was  General 
Sabatier.  He  was  relieved  by  the  Tenth  Colonial.  When  re- 
lieved he  said:  "Those  Americans  are  the  queerest  things  I 
have  ever  seen."  He  said  that  a  Boche  prisoner  had  told  him 
the  Yankees  were  crazy.  The  Boche  said:  "They  sing  when 
they  use  the  bayonet,  and  they  follow  you  right  into  your 
own  wire." 

This  general  was  a  very  generous  man  in  his  tribute.  He 
said:  "I  have  lost  a  garrison  generally  whenever  the  Boche 
wanted  to  come  over  and  take  it.  I  didn't  know  how  to  stop 
it.  A  great  American  division  comes  in  here  and  suggests  a  new 
method  to  us  people  who  have  been  fighting  for  three  or  four 
years.  The  Boche  had  got  our  goats.  Now  that  is  all  changed. 
Now  the  Americans  have  got  their  goats.  They  don't  need 
anybody  on  the  flank  of  their  liaison.  They  have  destroyed  the 
Fifth  Landwehr  division.  They  own  No  Man's  Land.  I  take 
off  my  hat  to  the  Twenty-sixth  Division." 

In  that  warfare  written  orders  were  issued  covering  the 
most  minute  details,  but  in  this  case  the  General  stepped 
in,  and  through  his  knowledge  of  the  situation  gave 
verbal  orders  which  were  a  decisive  factor  in  our  success. 

69 


CHAPTER  VIII 
Battle  of  Apremont 

On  the  morning  of  April  10  the  Boche  attacked  in  force 
the  lines  of  the  104th  Infantry.  There  were  800  men  in 
the  raid,  and  they  penetrated  for  a  short  distance  into  the 
front  lines.  The  104th  then  counter  attacked.  They 
fought  through  the  night  of  the  10th  and  all  day  of  the 
11th,  drove  the  Boche  out  of  their  lines,  captured  48 
prisoners  and  killed  a  large  number.  The  American  casu- 
alties were  very  light. 

After  that  fight  General  Edwards  had  a  conference 
with  General  Passaga,  the  French  corps  commander,  and 
it  was  decided  to  build  a  trench,  wiping  out  a  salient. 
The  101st  Engineers  did  this,  working  nights  between 
bombardments,  and  finished  it  in  a  few  days. 

During  this  battle  of  Apremont  Forest  there  were  inci- 
dents of  personal  bravery  too  numerous  to  mention.  The 
men  proved  themselves  to  be  absolutely  fearless,  while 
their  reckless  bravery  and  ability  with  the  bayonet 
daunted  the  Hun.  One  incident,  however,  will  bear  repe- 
tition at  this  time. 

On  the  morning  of  April  12  orders  had  been  received 
for  an  advance  by  the  104th  Infantry.  Sergeant  John  A. 
Dickerman  of  the  Headquarters  Company  was  in  charge 
of  two  Stokes  mortars,  the  small  trench  artillery  which 
did  so  much  damage.  These  two  mortars  were  placed  in 
a  screen  just  behind  the  second  line  trench.  With  Dick- 
erman were  Privates  Alson,  Knutson,  Cole  and  Hovvdand, 
and  Corporal  Henry  Mack.     Dickerman  had  orders  to 

70 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

lay  down  a  barrage  of  three  minutes,  after  which  the  artil- 
lery was  to  take  it  up  and  drop  a  barrage  behind  which 
two  companies  were  to  go  over  the  top  in  the  first  wave. 
There  was  a  heavy  fog  that  morning. 

Dickerman  laid  dowTi  his  barrage  as  ordered,  but  there 
was  no  sign  from  the  artillery.  In  the  fog  the  signal  had 
not  been  seen.  Then  the  Boches  came  over  in  an  attack 
against  the  American  lines,  and  Dickerman  opened  up 
with  his  mortars.  They  were  the  only  protection  between 
the  Boche  and  the  104th  first  line. 

The  men  v/orked  madly,  dropping  round  after  round 
into  the  mortars,  which  took  deadly  toll  in  the  attacking 
force.  Then  the  Germans  started  a  creeping  barrage. 
The  shells  from  the  enemy  guns  exploded  nearer  and 
nearer  to  the  little  party  working  the  mortars.  Sergeant 
Dickerman  and  the  men  knew  that  it  was  only  a  question 
of  time,  as  it  was  easy  to  locate  them.  Still,  they  held 
out.  Suddenly  a  shell  landed  in  the  midst  of  the  party. 
Alson,  Knutson  and  Cole  were  killed,  and  Rowland  was 
wounded.  Corporal  Mack  escaped.  Dickerman  lost  his 
right  eye  and  right  foot,  his  left  leg  was  torn  and  he  had 
many  other  wounds.  For  this  all  of  the  party,  living 
and  dead,  were  given  the  Croix  de  Guerre. 

The  enemy  was  comparatively  quiet  after  this  until  the 
attack  on  Seicheprey  on  April  20  to  the  22d.  The  Ger- 
man "Sturntruppen,"  or  Hindenburg's  Traveling  Circus, 
as  it  was  called,  led  the  attack.  These  were  a  body  of 
picked  shock  troops,  who  traveled  from  place  to  place, 
along  the  German  line  and  delivered  raids  at  regular 
intervals.  After  a  heavy  bombardment  they  came  over, 
about  400  in  number,  with  about  2,500  more  Germans 
following  to  consolidate  the  positions  the  raiders  were 
expected  to  take.  They  came  over  with  full  packs  and 
with  orders  to  take  the  lines  and  hold  them  until  they 

71 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

could  be  consolidated.    Evidently  the  attack  was  designed 
to  break  down  the  Yankee  morale. 

The  Boches  were  favored  by  a  heavy  fog,  and  were 
upon  the  New  Englanders  before  they  realized  what  had 
happened.  Company  C  of  the  102d  Infantry  was  sur- 
prised, and  practically  the  whole  unit  was  captured. 
Many  desperate  combats  took  place  in  the  mist. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  Colonel  Bertrand,  command- 
ing a  French  regiment,  led  his  troops  in  a  counter  attack 
on  Fleurv,  mounted  on  a  horse. 

The  fighting  became  general.  Like  their  forefathers  at 
Lexington,  the  Americans  fought  from  behind  walls  in 
the  little  towns  behind  the  front,  and  any  other  cover 
they  could  find.  Armed  with  machine  guns  and  rifles, 
some  of  these  detachments  held  on  for  two  days.  At 
the  end  of  the  fight  Lieutenant  Lockhart,  unshaven, 
drawn  and  haggard,  reported  to  his  commanding  officer 
and  apologized  for  his  appearance.  He  said  that  he  had 
been  in  a  trench  with  his  platoon  and  not  a  man  had  left. 
Asked  how  many  remained  alive,  he  replied:   "Nine  sir." 

Word  came  that  at  the  convergence  of  two  lines  of 
trench  there  were  a  party  of  Boches  in  a  strong  point. 
Lieutenant  Wilcox,  with  an  automatic  rifle  and  four  men, 
went  up  one  trench.  His  platoon  had  been  relieved,  but 
he  could  not  take  it  out  because  of  the  barrage.  At  the 
same  time  Lieutenant  Horton  Edmands,  former  Boston 
newspaperman,  took  five  men  and  went  up  the  trench  at 
the  left,  headed  for  the  same  point.  Lieutenant  Wilcox 
left  two  of  his  men  to  bomb  a  dugout  on  the  way  up,  and 
therefore  had  but  two  men  with  him  when  he  came  on 
nineteen  of  the  enemy  in  a  communicating  trench.  He 
immediately  commanded  them  to  throw  up  their  hands, 
and  the  whole  party  were  taken  prisoners. 

In  the  meantime  Lieutenant  Edmands  arrived  at  the 

72 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

strong  point  and  found  eleven  Boches  waiting  for  him. 
Edmands  ran  up,  pistol  in  hand,  and  his  appearance  so 
terrified  the  Gennans  that  one  of  them  threw  his  arms 
around  the  young  officer's  neck  and  begged  for  mercy. 
The  man  had  been  wounded  in  the  arm,  and  his  blood 
flowed  all  over  the  American.  Edmands  gathered  up  his 
prisoners,  the  wounded  being  placed  in  makeshift  litters 
and  went  back  down  the  trench.  For  these  acts  both 
lieutenants  received  the  Croix  de  Guerre. 

General  Edwards  told  of  the  battle  in  these  words :  — 

Then  came  an  incident  that  is  very  important  to  me,  and  I 
think  I  analyze  it  properly.  That  is  the  battle  of  Seicheprey, 
where  the  102d  was  stationed.  It  was  the  first  battle  where 
any  number  of  prisoners  were  taken.  We  had  all  become  a 
little  cocky.  The  104th  stayed  there,  although  they  were 
pretty  badly  cut  up,  because  we  had  only  a  few  divisions  then 
and  the  Boche  divisions  were  in  superior  numbers  on  the  western 
front.  We  knew  they  were  going  to  try  to  break  through, 
and  the  master  minds  had  to  keep  divisions  in  reserve  to  rein- 
force any  line  that  might  be  threatened. 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th  of  April  we  had  a  little  bit  of 
evidence  of  larger  concentration  of  Boche  guns,  and  they  were 
a  little  bit  more  active.  Early  in  the  morning,  4  o'clock,  the 
most  violent  bombardment  on  all  the  rear  areas,  on  Seicheprey, 
Rombacaur  and  on  the  connecting  trenches,  took  place.  The 
101st  were  at  Ramschelle,  and  Colonel  Logan's  headquarters 
were  smothered.  He  was  in  the  cellar  of  a  church,  and  he  and 
Father  O'Connor  wore  their  masks  for  five  or  six  hours.  We 
could  not  tell  at  first  where  the  smash  was  coming.  There  was 
a  tremendously  heavy  mist,  and  the  Boche  was  favored.  Thir- 
teen hundred  shock  troops  came  down  between  Seicheprey  and 
Ramschelle,  and  another  1,500  came  around  from  Remier, 
starting  for  Seicheprey,  and  the  artillery  just  smothered  us. 
It  was  as  much  as  a  man's  life  was  worth  to  try  to  get  out  of 
Seicheprey  by  Beaumont,  but  they  did  it.    There  Lieutenant 

73 


THE   YANKEE  DIVISION 

H.  Comfort,  a  doctor,  ran  back  and  forth  through  the  barrage. 
The  ambulances  ran  on  the  main  road  to  Seicheprey.  A  gallant 
sergeant  timed  the  shots  and  would  shoot  through.  Most  of 
them  were  hit  right  into  Seicheprey. 

The  Germans  swept  down  into  the  middle  of  the  town. 
They  overran  our  machine  guns,  and  they  had  big  clubs;  they 
carried  5-kilogram  nitroglycerine  boxes,  and  they  all  had  trench 
knives.  This  man.  Captain  Stanchfield,  stood  there.  The 
first  thing  he  saw  was  two  automatic  guns  playing  on  him,  not 
more  than  10  feet  away.  They  got  into  the  middle  of  Seiche- 
prey. And  there  v.  as  a  gallant  fellow  by  the  name  of  Major 
Rau,  since  killed,  who  stood  there.  There  was  also  Lieutenant 
Thompson,  who  gathered  his  men  together  and  fought  them. 
And  Captain  Griswell,  who  came  home  suffering  from  shell 
shock,  was  surrounded. 

Three  of  our  machine-gun  crews  were  found  sitting  on  their 
machines  with  their  heads  down.  Only  one  man  got  away 
alive.  In  front  of  each  machine  gun  were  10  to  15  Boches 
lying  around;  there  were  over  400  Boche  helmets  on  the  ground. 

They  outgunned  us  by  4  or  5  to  1,  and  they  kept  up  this 
artillery  concentration  for  over  thirty-six  hours.  It  was  as 
much  as  your  life  was  worth  to  go  anywhere.  I  would  not  let 
them  go  to  pick  up  our  dead.  We  buried  164.  The  Boches 
worked  thirty-six  hours  with  twenty-six  pairs  of  litter  bearers 
taking  away  their  wounded.  We  carefully  examined  prisoners, 
and  everybody  else  after  that,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  their 
casualties  amounted  to  1,200.  We  lost  very  nearly  150  pris- 
oners. We  had  gassed  or  slightly  wounded  about  600,  and  the 
permanent  losses  were  about  200. 

We  found  the  Boche  coming  down  the  Laiville  trench,  and 
we  put  all  the  Twenty-sixth  artillery  on  that  trench,  as  well 
as  the  69th,  and  we  massacred  them. 

That  night  the  Yankees  counter  attacked  under  Major 
Rau,  drove  the  enemy  from  the  American  trenches,  cap- 
tured a  few  prisoners,  and  buried  more  dead  Huns  than 

74 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

the  Twenty-sixth  had  suffered  in  killed,  wounded  or 
missing. 

The  102d  Infantry  bore  the  brunt  of  this  engagement, 
and  acquitted  themselves  in  a  way  that  brought  more 
compliments  from  the  French.  About  thirty  or  forty 
general  American  prisoners,  with  the  102d  Infantry  at 
this  time,  were  w^orking  in  this  vicinity.  When  the  fight 
began  the  prisoners  grabbed  rifles  from  wounded  and 
dead  comrades,  jumped  into  the  midst  of  the  fray,  and 
each  and  every  one  proved  himself  to  be  a  hero. 

The  bombardment  which  began  on  Saturday  morning 
was  the  m.ost  terrific  the  Americans  had  yet  experienced. 
High  explosives  mixed  with  gas  were  sprayed  all  up  and 
down  the  line.  The  Boche  was  following  the  barrage 
closely  at  right  angles,  and  a  great  many  Germans  got 
through  the  loosely  held  front  line,  which  was  nothing 
but  an  irregular  string  of  strong  points. 

The  Germans  intended  to  hold  this  line  with  their 
storm  troops  until  reinforcements  could  come  up  and 
organize  it.  The  Germans  shelled  the  roads  leading  to 
the  front  line  in  an  attempt  to  prevent  the  Yankee  reserves 
from  comJng  up,  but  they  came  up. 

In  the  midst  of  a  deadly  storm  of  shells  they  fought 
with  the  rifle,  bayonets,  grenades,  pistols  and  even  their 
fists.  Although  heavily  outnumbered,  the  New  England- 
ers  fought  on  and  on.  Hand-to-hand  combats  took  place 
in  the  streets  of  a  little  town  just  behind  the  lines. 

Then  the  Boche  retreated,  carrying  his  own  wounded 
and  also  taking  some  prisoners.  In  retreating  the  Boche 
came  upon  isolated  platoons  of  Yankees,  and  swept  some 
of  them  along  with  them.  Captain  Griswold  was  with 
one  of  these,  but  he  managed  to  escape  when  a  shell 
dropped  near  his  captors. 

In  the  meantime  the  American  artillery  was  pouring  a 

75 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 

devastating  fire  on  the  first  line  trench,  now  held  by  the 
enemy. 

During  the  engagement  the  engineers  in  this  sector 
fought  abreast  of  the  infantry.  The  2d  Battalion  of 
Infantry,  which  had  just  been  relieved  before  the  fight 
began,  returned  to  the  front  and  "stood  to."  Many 
small  units  which  were  not  relieved  stayed  in  their  posi- 
tions until  the  end. 

The  moral  effect  of  Seicheprey  on  the  allies  was  very 
great,  in  that  it  showed  the  Yankees  had,  in  their  first 
serious  engagement,  been  able  to  stand  up,  take  punish- 
ment, and  hold  ground  against  especially  trained  shock 
troops. 

On  April  28  the  104th  Infantry  was  decorated  with  the 
Croix  de  Guerre  for  its  work  in  the  battle  of  Apremont. 
There  were  also  116  individual  decorations  given  out  that 
day  to  officers  and  men  of  the  regiment. 

The  ceremony  took  place  in  a  large  field,  the  battalion 
marching  from  the  billets,  where  it  was  being  held  in 
reserve,  having  left  the  front  line  for  rest.  General 
Edwards  and  his  chief  of  staff  were  present,  as  was  Brig- 
adier-General Cole,  commanding  the  brigade. 

General  Passaga,  in  his  gray-blue  uniform,  arrived  in  a 
big  automobile  and  was  greeted  by  the  American  officers. 
With  his  aide.  General  Passaga  advanced  to  the  colors  of 
the  104th,  followed  by  General  Edwards,  and  pinned  the 
Croix  de  Guerre  to  them.  He  said:  "I  am  proud  to 
decorate  the  flag  of  a  regiment  which  has  shown  such 
fortitude  and  courage.  I  am  proud  to  decorate  the 
flag  of  a  nation  which  has  come  to  aid  in  the  fight  for 
liberty." 

He  then  decorated  Colonel  Shelton  and  the  remainder 
of  the  oflScers  and  men  who  had  been  cited.  Among 
these  were  Father  Des  Saulles,  the  Knights  of  Columbus 

76 


Captain   Nathaniel    S.    Simpkins    (deceased),    Second  Aide-de-Camp 
to  Major-General  Clarence  R.  Edwards 


Members  of  Twenty-sixth  Division  leaving  for  the  Front,  France 


Captain   H.    M.    Howe    inspecting   Members   of    Company    C,    101st 
Ammunition  Train,  in  France 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

chaplain,  and  the  Rev.  Walter  Danker  of  Worcester,  the 
Protestant  chaplain,  who  was  later  killed. 

The   order    which    resulted    in    these    decorations    was 
issued  by  General  Passaga,  and  read  as  follows :  — 

Thirty-second  Army  Corps, 

Headquarters,  April  26,  1918. 

Staff  G-1. 
General  Orders, 
No.  737-A. 


1 


General  Passaga,  in  command  of  the  Thirty-second  Army 
Corps,  mentions  in  the  army  corps  dispatches :  — 

One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Infantry  Regiment,  U.  S.  A., 
under  command  of  Colonel  G.  H.  Shelton:  — 

For  greatest  fighting  spirit  and  self-sacrifice  during  action  of  April 
10,  12  and  13,  1918.  Suffering  from  very  heavy  bombardments  and 
attacked  by  very  strong  German  forces  succeeded  in  preventing  their 
dangerous  advance,  and  with  greatest  energy  reconquered  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet  the  few  ruined  trenches  which  had  to  be  aban- 
doned at  the  first  onset,  at  the  same  time  making  prisoners. 

General  Passaga, 
Commanding  Thirty-second  Army  Corps. 

A  few  days  previously  the  following  was  issued :  — 

Headquarters  Twenty-sixth  Division, 

American  Expeditionary  Force, 

France,  April  15,  1918. 

General  Orders,! 
No.  29.  j 

1.  The  following  General  Order,  issued  by  the  general  com- 
manding the  Thirty-second  Army  Corps,  French,  is  published 
for  the  information  of  this  command :  — 


77 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Eighth  Army,  Thirty-second  Army  Corps  Staff-, 

Third  Bureau,  Headquarters,  April  14,  1918. 

No.   1870-3. 
General  Orders, 
No.  124. 

On  April  12,  just  past,  the  enemy,  supported  by  powerful  artillery, 
made  an  attack  in  force  on  the  lines  held  by  the  left  of  the  Twenty- 
sixth  American  Division  and  the  right  of  the  Tenth  Colonial  Division. 

The  struggle  continued  throughout  the  day  and  the  nigbt  of  April  12 
and  13. 

In  the  course  of  the  engagement,  thanks  to  the  vigorous  and  repeated 
counter  attacks  of  the  Americans  and  of  our  Colonials,  the  enemy,  in 
spite  of  his  superiority  in  numbers,  was  thrown  back  from  several 
trench  positions  where  he  had  gained  a  foothold,  and  left  in  our  hands 
more  than  forty  prisoners  and  a  large  number  of  dead. 

During  this  fight,  carried  on  under  a  severe  bombardment,  the 
American  troops  gave  proof  not  only  of  their  splendid  courage,  which 
we  know,  but  also  of  a  brotherhood  in  arms  which  was  absolute  and 
ever  present. 

With  such  men  as  these  the  cause  of  liberty  is  sure  to  triumph, 

Passaga. 
Headquarters,  April  14,  1918. 

General  Passaga,  commanding  the  Thirty-second  Army  Corps. 

2.  The  division  may  well  be  proud  of  such  praises  from  one 
so  well  qualified  to  speak  of  merit  on  the  battlefield.  I  con- 
gratulate the  entire  command,  and  desire  especially  to  mention 
the  gallant  conduct  of  the  Third  Battalion,  104th  Infantry, 
Second  Battalion,  104th  Infantry,  and  Company  C,  103d 
IMachine  Gun  Battalion,  Vv^ho  bore  the  brunt  of  the  fight, 
as  well  as  Batteries  D,  E  and  F,  101st  Field  Artillery,  three 
platoons  of  90  m.m.  guns,  manned  by  men  of  the  101st  Field 
Artillery,  and  the  101st  Trench  Mortar  Battery,  whose  able 
support  of  the  infantry  and  machine  guns  made  victory  possible. 

C.  R.  Edwards, 
Major-General,  Commanding. 


78 


CHAPTER   IX 
How  They  **  Kept  the  Faith  " 

The  exercises  connected  with  the  awarding  of  decora- 
tions were  an  ordeal  to  many  of  the  men  concerned.  It 
is  related  how  when  General  Passaga  was  pinning  the 
Croix  de  Guerre  on  members  of  the  104th  Regiment,  one 
boy,  whose  bravery  had  been  of  a  superhuman  order, 
turned  pale  and  fainted.  French  officers  stated  that  this 
was  common,  and  that  it  was  generally  the  most  indom- 
itable fighter  who  was  most  affected. 

It  was  during  this  time,  when  one  of  the  regiments 
was  in  billets,  that  its  colonel  made  an  address  to  the  men 
which,  for  frankness  and  straight  from  the  shoulder 
expressions  of  opinion,  had  never  been  equaled  in  the 
division. 

He  prefaced  his  remarks  by  recalling  a  talk  he  had 
given  the  outfit  before  starting  for  the  front. 

I  asked  you  then  [said  the  colonel],  to  have  faith  in  me.  I 
ask  you  now  whether  I  have  kept  that  faith,  and  whether  what 
I  told  you  then  was  true,  and  whether  I  have  helped  to  redeem 
the  promises  I  made  you? 

I  feel  that  you  have  kept  faith,  and  because  of  what  you 
have  done  I  am  proud  of  you;  your  superiors,  the  American 
Army  and  your  country  are  proud  of  you. 

I  told  you  three  months  ago  that  we  were  going  to  the  front. 
We  did,  and  we  gave  a  good  account  of  ourselves.  Then  we 
were  sent  to  another  front;  we  have  here  given  an  even  better 
account  of  ourselves,  and  for  this  you  are  largely  to  be  thanked. 

I  warn  you  that  the  end  is  not  here;  after  our  rest  we  shall 
be  back  in  the  line  somewhere.    Wherever  we  are,  I  count  on 

79 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

you  for  the  same  loyal  service  you  have  given,  the  same  grit, 
the  same  determination  to  meet  the  Boche  and  to  do  him. 

Don't  let  any  one  get  the  idea  that  we  have  done  our  full 
part,  for  we  may  be  called  on  soon  to  do  more. 

We  are  now  in  a  rest  period.  But  I  have  some  bad  news  for 
you;  while  resting  we  shall  probably  be  requested  to  amuse 
ourselves  by  putting  up  barbed  wire. 

I  asked  you  to  exercise  self-control  in  that  other  talk  and 
you  did.  Courts-martial  were  wiped  out.  There  has  been  a 
little  reaction,  and  I  am  appealing  to  you  once  more  on  this 
score. 

After  all,  it  is  up  to  you  to  keep  your  comrades  from  going 
A.  W.  O.  L,  I  don't  want  a  yellow  man  in  the  regiment,  and 
when  there  is  one  I  want  you  to  help  me  get  rid  of  him.  And 
the  next  time  we  go  in  —  and  it  may  be  soon  —  I  want  you 
to  see  that  every  man  of  your  own  squad  is  on  his  job. 

Now,  in  spite  of  the  presence  of  the  chaplain,  I'm  going  to 
preach  a  little  hate.  You  know  now  what  war  is,  and  you  have 
seen  the  men,  face  to  face,  who  produced  this  war.  In  your 
hearts  you  know  the  Boche  is  yellow.  You  have  shown  that, 
man  for  man,  you  are  the  better.  And  you  can  beat  him  at  his 
own  nasty  game,  if  he  is  bound  to  fight  that  way. 

You  have  seen  your  fellows  hit  and  you  have  taken  prisoners, 
4  to  1,  I  believe.     But  that's  not  enough. 

The  Boche  is  a  bully  and  he  is  always  yellow.  He  can  fight, 
and  he  will  go  on  fighting  beyond  where  we  can  win.  He  will 
try  every  nasty  trick  to  kill  you  and  to  make  you  suffer.  Don't 
forget  that.  When  you  meet  him  remember  what  he  has  done. 
I  shan't  be  satisfied  with  even  40  to  1,  and  I  don't  want  you  to 
be.  Get  every  one  you  can.  Go  in  cool  of  head,  but  with  hatred 
in  your  hearts  and  venom  in  your  bayonets.  Every  Boche 
killed  brings  the  end  of  the  war  nearer. 

The  next  engagement  was  in  the  rear  of  Fleury  on 
May  20,  the  division  having  taken  over  two  more  kilo- 
meters of  line  on  the  right  to  relieve  the  French  division. 

80 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

The  Boche  heard  of  it  and  attacked.  Major  McCarthy's 
battahon  of  the  101st  defended  the  sahent. 

The  attack  was  a  failure.  As  the  enemy  came  over, 
he  was  met  with  a  smashing  rifle  and  machine-gun  fire 
which  took  the  heart  out  of  him  and  forced  him  to  retreat. 
During  the  engagement  Major  McCarthy  sent  back 
word  to  divisional  headquarters  at  Boucq:  "We're  ready 
for  them,  but  they  are  not  coming  over  fast  enough." 

Probably  the  most  interesting  event  during  the  Twenty- 
Sixth's  occupancy  of  this  sector  was  the  early  morning 
when  a  battalion  of  gas  engineers  put  on  a  projector  gas 
attack  on  the  unsuspecting  Boche  in  the  vicinity  of 
Fleury.  Very  little  gas  had  been  used  by  the  Yankees  up 
to  this  time. 

Major  Watson,  commanding  the  gas  battalion,  was 
greatly  pleased  with  the  encouragement  received  from 
General  Edwards,  and  made  finished  preparation  for  this 
attack.  The  projectors  were  placed  under  ideal  condi- 
tions, and  the  atmospheric  conditions  were  most  favor- 
able. It  was  learned  from  prisoners  late  that  night  that 
a  regimental  relief  was  going  on  when  the  projector  gas 
was  put  over,  and  they  estimated  that  2,500  Bodies  were 
evacuated. 

It  is  known  as  a  fact  that  within  an  hour  following  the 
attack  the  Boche  was  desperate.  He  turned  loose  all  the 
artillery  he  had  and  peppered  the  entire  sector  without 
any  regard  for  where  he  was  shooting.  All  the  towns  in 
the  back  area,  including  Boucq,  were  subjected  to  bom- 
bardment by  long  range  guns. 

The  next  event  of  importance  on  this  sector  was  the 
raid  of  Major  Hickey's  battalion  of  the  101st  Infantry  at 
Reichecourt.  Four  or  five  days  before  the  raid,  about 
May  25  or  20,  the  battalion  was  withdrawn  from  the  line 
and  was  taken  to  the  rear.    Here  a  place  had  been  chosen 

81 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

as  nearly  like  the  terrain  of  the  German  lines  as  possible. 
Aerial  photographs  furnished  the  necessary  information 
from  which  trenches  like  the  Germans'  were  laid  out. 
There  were  also  dugouts  and  machine  gun  emplacements. 
The  men  of  the  battalion  were  then  sent  into  these  imi- 
tation trenches,  and  for  several  days  they  practiced 
taking  them. 

On  the  night  of  May  30  the  divisional  artillery  laid 
down  a  barrage  and  gassed  the  German  second  and  third 
lines  and  communication  trenches.  Then  the  battalion 
went  over.  They  found  a  few  Boches  left  in  the  trenches, 
and  these  they  killed  or  captured.  The  remainder  had 
been  destroyed  by  the  artillery.  This  was  the  first  big 
all- American  raid. 

During  these  engagements  the  majority  of  the  orders 
were  transmitted  by  telephone.  There  was  constant  tele- 
phonic communication  between  divisional  headquarters 
and  brigade  and  regimental  commands. 

On  the  morning  of  Sunday  June  16,  about  3.30,  a 
German  plane  came  over  and  dropped  bombs  on  Boucq, 
where  divisional  headquarters  were  located,  and  Roy- 
au-Meix  and  Juy-sous-les-Cotes,  the  towns  in  which 
the  headquarters  of  the  two  brigades  were  functioning. 
These  bombs  were  undoubtedly  dropped  so  that  the 
Boche  artillery  could  get  the  range. 

The  division  suffered  quite  a  few  casualties,  due  to  the 
erratic  fire.  Also,  as  there  were  no  dugouts  at  Boucq, 
it  became  necessary  to  move  divisional  headquarters  to 
Trondes,  where  the  staff  could  function. 

One  shell  landed  in  the  midst  of  a  crowd  of  men  who 
had  just  come  from  church  at  Roy-au-Meix.  Several  cas- 
ualties resulted,  one  of  those  killed  being  Chaplain 
Danker.  General  Shelton's  orderly  was  another.  He 
seemed  to  know  by  intuition  where  the  shell  was  going 

82 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

to  burst,  and  threw  himself  between  his  commanding 
officer  and  the  deadly  projectile.  The  orderly  was  killed 
but  Shelton  received  only  a  wound  in  the  cheek,  while 
his  uniform,  a  new  one  that  he  had  put  on  to  wear  to 
church,  was  torn  in  several  places  by  splinters. 

The  last  engagement  in  this  sector  was  at  Xivray  on 
this  date.  The  Boche  laid  down  a  terrific  barrage,  and 
then  advanced  in  three  columns,  two  from  the  north  and 
one  from  the  west.  The  enemy  intended  to  surround 
and  capture  the  garrison,  which  was  made  up  partly  of 
the  103d  Infantry  and  Company  D  of  the  103d  Machine 
Gun  Battalion. 

One  of  the  enemy  columns  tried  to  get  in  behind  from 
the  west  and  was  annihilated  by  machine-gun  fire.  The 
other  two  columns  became  confused  under  the  treatment 
they  were  receiving  and  fell  back,  leaving  a  number  of 
prisoners  and  many  dead.  The  corps  commander  said  of 
this  that  it  was  the  most  brilliant  piece  of  work  he  had 
seen  on  any  front. 

The  Germans  had  brought  in  long-range  railway  guns 
near  the  foot  of  Mont  Sec,  which  opened  up  and  dropped 
shells  on  the  headquarters  towns.  A  barrage  was  then 
laid  down  on  the  first  line  at  Xivray-Marvoisson,  where 
the  103d  Infantry  was  holding.  About  4  o'clock  a  strong 
force  came  over  and  attacked.  They  got  as  far  as  the 
village  of  Xivray  when  the  Yankees  made  a  stand.  The 
Germans  did  not  get  into  the  town.  The  few  platoons  of 
New  Englanders  who  were  holding  the  front  line  then 
counter  attacked  and  drove  the  Boche  back  to  his  own 
lines.  Several  prisoners  were  captured  by  the  Americans, 
whose  casualties  were  slight. 

Six  hundred  Germans  were  in  the  raiding  party  which 
had  for  its  object  the  envelopment  of  the  ruins  of  Xivray- 
Marvoisson.     Before   the   raid   had   really   started,   the 

83 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

American  observers  saw  the  Boche  in  front  of  his  own 
hnes,  called  for  artillery  and  machine-gun  barrage,  and 
created  considerable  havoc  before  the  German  barrage 
started. 

The  Germans  went  forward,  and  one  officer  took  a 
platoon  across  the  road  running  from  Xivray  to  Boucin- 
ville,  following  his  own  barrage.  One  of  his  men  being 
wounded,  he  stopped  to  ascertain  the  extent  of  the  inju- 
ries. On  looking  up  he  beheld  a  group  of  Yankees  with 
fixed  bayonets  dashing  at  him,  while  his  own  party  had 
disappeared.  The  German  officer  surrendered,  but  later 
complained  bitterly  about  Yankee  tactics.  "The  Ameri- 
cans had  no  right  to  be  where  they  were,"  he  said.  "They 
were  coming  right  through  the  German  barrage  and 
might  have  been  absolutely  wiped  out." 

In  the  meantime  the  reserve  units  had  gone  forward 
automatically  to  the  relief  of  the  Yankees  in  the  front 
line,  and  the  Boche  was  once  more  driven  off. 

It  was  during  this  time  that  Captain  Henry  D.  Com- 
erais,  on  the  staff  of  Colonel  Logan,  was  wounded.  He 
was  working  on  a  map  hanging  on  a  wall  in  the  head- 
quarters of  the  101st  Infantry,  up  near  the  front.  Colonel 
Logan  had  just  left  his  seat  by  the  window  when  a  frag- 
ment of  shell  flew  by  the  spot  where  he  had  been  seated, 
and,  striking  Captain  Comerais  on  the  right  hand,  tore 
most  of  it  away.  His  absence  in  the  hospital  as  a  result 
was  a  great  loss  to  Colonel  Logan. 

Before  and  after  these  engagements  small  raids  were 
being  carried  out.  The  results  were  not  of  sufficient 
importance  to  obtain  mention  in  the  daily  intelligence 
bulletins.  Nevertheless,  these  raids  frequently  developed 
instances  of  dare-devil  bravery  and  quick  thinking  which 
were  typically  American. 

On   one   occasion   Lieutenant   Thomas   J.    Quirk   and 

84 


Marceau 


Major  John  W.  Hyatt 


Unclerwooil  tV  Underwood,  New  York 

Sergeant  John  Latzig,  Company  E,  104th  Infantry, 
with  First  German  captured  by  an  American 
Soldier,  February  17,  1918 


Guarding  an  Old  German  Dugout,  Bois  d'Esparges,  France,  Septem- 
ber 12,  1918 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

thirty-six  men  worked  through  the  Boche  wire  by  means 
of  a  gateway  which  the  enemy  kept  open  for  his  own 
patrols.  The  patrol  managed  to  get  into  the  town  of 
Apremont,  well  inside  the  German  lines,  when  they  were 
discovered. 

Before  the  Yankees  could  take  cover  a  burst  of  machine- 
gun  fire  got  six  men.  Lieutenant  Quirk  decided  that  his 
party  were  too  few  in  number  to  stay  and  fight  it  out. 
He  gave  the  order  for  the  men  to  retrace  their  steps.  This 
they  did,  taking  the  wounded  with  them.  On  arriving 
at  the  gate  in  the  wire  they  found  that  the  opening  was 
being  swept  by  a  hail  of  machine-gun  bullets,  through 
which  no  man  might  pass.  After  a  short  time  devoted  to 
deliberation  of  the  problem,  the  oflBcer  decided  that  all 
the  bullets  were  flying  at  least  2  feet  above  the  ground. 
Whereupon  he  ordered  his  men  to  lie  down  and  roll 
through,  which  they  did,  dragging  their  wounded  with 
them.    Every  man  got  back  to  the  Yankee  trenches. 


85 


CHAPTER  X 
Boche  Beaten  at  Own  Game 

And  so  the  days  and  nights  dragged  by.  The  New 
Englanders  had  by  this  time  found  themselves.  They 
were  confident  and  assured,  knowing  that  they  had 
received  everything  the  Boche  had  to  offer,  and  had 
beaten  him  at  his  own  game. 

They  had  stood  all  sorts  of  hardships  uncomplainingly, 
had  gone  without  sleep,  food  and  equipment.  And  worst 
of  all,  they  had  lived  in  horrible  mud  and  the  almost 
continual  rain  without  any  lowering  of  morale.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  they  had  grown  stronger,  and  bore  them- 
selves with  a  quiet  self-confidence  which  had  been  lacking 
in  the  days  of  training  at  Neuf chateau. 

While  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  occupied  the  Toul 
sector,  it  was  visited  by  Elsie  Janis,  the  famous  actress. 
She  immediately  became  extremely  popular  with  the  men, 
and  called  the  Twenty-sixth  "my  division."  The  young 
woman,  who  was  accompanied  by  her  mother,  wore  three 
silver  stars,  so  that  she  could  outrank  General  Edwards, 
and  Captain  "Al"  Ford  was  made  her  chief  of  staff.  She 
remained  three  or  four  days,  giving  outdoor  entertain- 
ments, and  cheered  the  men  up.  Miss  Janis  paid  the 
division  three  visits  in  all. 

On  May  25  the  Germans  had  started  a  drive  on  the 
Chemin  des  Dames,  which  the  Twenty-sixth  had  pre- 
viously occupied.  In  order  that  the  French  on  the  Toul 
sector  might  send  units  to  take  part  in  this  battle,  the 
Yankee  Division  troops  took  over  two  more  kilometers 
of  front,  making  20  kilometers  they  were  holding  alto- 

86 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

gether,  or  more  than  twice  the  size  of  a  normal  sector. 
The  line  extended  from  Boucainville  up  to  Limay,  and 
included  both  places. 

Owing  to  the  great  width  of  the  sector,  the  problem  of 
bringing  up  food  and  ammunition  was  a  tremendous  one. 
The  roads  were  continually  under  shell  fire,  and  during 
the  various  engagements  the  truck  drivers  worked  night 
and  day.  During  the  Bois  Brule  fight,  which  lasted 
five  days  and  five  nights,  the  guns  consumed  enormous 
quantities  of  shells,  but  Seicheprey  was  the  worst  with 
which  the  men  had  had  to  deal.  During  this  engagement 
the  men  of  the  ammunition  train  worked  forty-eight 
hours  steadily,  despite  the  fact  that  Colonel  Keville  in 
command  had  attempted  to  arrange  eight-hour  shifts. 

The  road  leading  from  Beaumont  to  Fleury  ran  prac- 
tically parallel  with  the  front,  along  a  ridge  of  high  ground 
part  of  the  way.  The  road  from  Beaumont  left  Fleury 
road  and  wound  down  i^ito  a  valley,  toward  Mandres, 
with  a  sharp  curve.  This  was  the  famous  Dead  Man's 
Curve,  and  was  the  scene  of  many  casualties.  A  camou- 
flaged battery  was  located  in  the  vicinity  and  the  German 
shells  were  continually  seeking  it. 

Throughout  the  Seicheprey  engagement  ammunition 
and  supplies  were  continually  brought  over  this  road, 
notwithstanding  the  enemy  shells.  As  a  result  the  mem- 
bers of  the  ammunition  train  came  out  with  casualties 
and  not  a  few  decorations. 

One  of  the  French  regiments  relieved  by  the  Twenty- 
sixth  was  the  162d,  commanded  by  Colonel  Bertrand. 
He  had  been  wounded  six  times  and  wore  the  Legion  of 
Honor,  the  Military  Medal  and  the  Croix  de  Guerre. 
His  regiment  had  also  been  cited  many  times,  and  was  one 
of  the  elite  organizations  of  the  French  Army.  Colonel 
Bertrand,  who  was  later  seriously  wounded  and  promoted 

87 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

to  brigadier-general,  always  led  his  men  into  action, 
sometimes  mounted  and  sometimes  on  foot. 

On  the  last  of  June  an  order  was  received  to  the  effect 
that  the  New  Englanders  would  be  relieved  by  the  Eighty- 
second  American  Division,  less  its  artillery,  and  a  French 
division  which  had  just  come  out  of  the  big  offensive  in 
the  vicinity  of  Soissons.  The  relief  occupied  three  days 
and  nights.  Fifty-two  thousand  troops  were  in  motion 
in  this  one  sector  during  the  three  days  of  relief.  So 
well,  however,  were  the  plans  for  the  relief,  prepared  by 
the  staff  of  the  Twenty -sixth,  executed  that  the  Boche 
had  no  intimation  that  relief  was  going  on,  and  not  a 
single  casualty  resulted.  This  was  something  unprece- 
dented in  the  history  of  relief. 

The  division  concentrated  in  the  next  few  days  in  the 
vicinity  of  Toul,  with  Boche  airplanes  hovering  over- 
head and  continually  dropping  bombs. 

Then  orders  came  for  the  division  to  proceed  to  a  new 
area,  the  location  of  which  was  not  designated.  How- 
ever, information  had  been  received  that  the  division 
was  to  be  stationed  in  Pantin,  a  suburb  of  Paris,  and 
every  one  was  jubilant.  All  believed  that  the  Yankee 
Division  was  to  march  in  the  July  4th  parade  in  Paris. 
Equipment  was  furbished  up,  and  plans  were  made  to 
enjoy  the  leaves  which  every  one  was  sure  would  be  given. 
The  men  had  had  but  two  days'  rest  up  to  this  time,  and 
they  felt  that  they  were  entitled  to  a  change  from  the 
life  at  the  front. 

The  troops  piled  aboard  the  combination  horse  and 
passenger  trains  which  pulled  out  with  their  shouting 
and  singing  freight.  As  the  trains  passed  the  tiny  French 
villages  the  men  cheered  and  enthusiastically  returned 
the  waving  and  cheering  of  the  inhabitants. 

Before  the  first  train  had  reached  Pantin,  however,  the 

88 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

men  experienced  acute  disappointment.  The  station 
was  changed  to  Noissy-le-Sec,  and  the  trains  started 
back  for  the  front.  It  then  dawned  on  every  one  that 
the  division  was  destined  to  go  back  into  Hne. 

The  trains  were  dispatched  to  detraining  points  in  the 
vicinity  of  Meaux  and  Le  Ferte,  close  to  the  sector  lying 
to  the  north  of  Chateau-Thierry. 

On  the  1st  and  2d  of  July  orders  came  in  to  relieve  the 
Second  with  the  famous  5th  and  6th  Regiments  of  Marines, 
which  at  Bois  Belleau  had  stood  off  one  of  the  worst  of 
the  German  drives.  The  marines  and  the  remainder  of 
the  Second  Division  had  suffered  heavily  in  withstanding 
this  push,  and  were  badly  in  need  of  rest. 

On  the  6tli  of  July  the  Yankee  Division  had  one  brigade 
of  infantry  in  line,  and  the  Second  Division  had  one 
brigade  of  infantry  out.  Then  the  Boche  started  the 
Marne  offensive,  called  the  second  battle  of  the  Marne. 
It  was  believed  that  this  would  extend  to  the  north  of 
Chateau-Thierry,  and  orders  came  from  the  higher  com- 
mand to  dispense  with  the  relief.  General  Bundy,  com- 
manding the  Second  Division,  was  told  to  hold  the 
advanced  sector  with  the  troops  he  had,  including  one 
brigade  of  the  Twenty-sixth.  General  Edwards,  with 
his  division,  less  the  one  brigade  of  infantry,  and  plus 
the  one  brigade  of  the  Second  Division,  was  told  to  hold 
the  second  line. 

This  situation  continued  three  or  four  days,  until  it 
was  clearly  indicated  that  the  Boche  would  not  extend 
his  operations  north  of  Chateau-Thierry.  An  order  then 
came  to  renew  the  relief. 

The  division  came  up  to  the  Chateau-Thierry  sector 
with  the  knowledge  on  the  part  of  the  stiiff  officers  that 
what  had  gone  before  was  practically  child's  play  to  what 
was  to  come.     They  anticipated  the  break-through,  but 

89 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

it  is  doubtful  if  any  one  realized  that  this  battle  was  to 
be  the  turning  point  of  the  war,  and  that  much  of  the 
success  gained  there  by  allied  arms  would  be  due  to  the 
Twenty-sixth  Division. 

Not  even  General  Edwards,  confident  as  he  was  of  the 
ability  of  his  men,  realized  that  it  was  here  they  were  to 
make  a  name  for  themselves  which  would  go  ringing 
down  the  corridors  of  time;  that  the  story  of  their  dogged 
pertinacity,  dare-devil  courage  and  sheer  cold  nerve, 
which  carried  them  forward  when  their  overworked 
brains  refused  to  function,  would  be  hailed  as  the  most 
remarkable  exliibition  of  fighting  efficiency  that  had  as 
yet  been  seen. 

As  the  division  took  over  the  sector  General  Edwards 
issued  the  following :  — 

Headquarters  Twenty-sixth  Division, 

American  Expeditionary  Forces, 
France,  July  11,  1918. 

General  Orders,! 
No.  60.  / 

1.  At  the  moment  that  the  Twenty -sixth  Division  takes  up 
its  position  on  its  third  sector  in  three  months  it  is  fitting  and 
proper  that  the  division  commander  should  take  this  oppor- 
tunity to  thank  and  congratulate  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
Yankee  Division  on  the  record  that  they  achieved,  since  the 
division  actively  took  its  place  in  the  fighting  lines  of  the 
allies  for  the  common  cause. 

2.  You  have  been  taken  from  a  sector  where  in  three  battles 
you  have  shown  that  the  blood  of  New  England  has  not  atten- 
uated, and  that  the  same  spirit  and  traditions  which  your  fore- 
fathers made  glorious  at  Lexington  and  at  Bunker  Hill  still 
survive  in  the  generation  which  at  Bois  Brule,  Seicheprey, 
Humbert  Plantation  and  Xivray  have  met  and  defeated  the 
picked  troops  of  the  enemy.  His  four  years  of  experience  in 
active  warfare  and  the  ferocity  of  his  methods  have  not  daunted 

00 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

you,  and  on  every  occasion  where  you  have  been  called  upon 
to  face  him  you  have  distinguished  yourself  with  notable  valor, 
and  brought  credit  upon  your  division  and  upon  the  people  of 
New  England  from  which  you  have  come  to  engage  in  this 
righteous  conflict. 

3,  A  great  honor  has  been  conferred  upon  the  whole  division 
in  that  the  French  and  American  high  command  has  at  this 
time  picked  your  division  to  come  into  this  critical  sector. 
That  you  have  been  so  hurried  to  this  sector  is  the  evidence  to 
you  all  of  the  opinion  of  the  high  command  of  the  mettle  of 
which  this  division  is  constituted. 

4.  The  past  months  in  battle  have  brought  men  and  oflBcers 
into  that  close  union  of  confidence  and  affection  which  have 
resulted  in  the  growing  morale  of  this  division.  Looking  back 
on  the  past  four  months  with  its  spotless  record  and  known 
achievements,  which  have  been  recognized  by  both  France  and 
America,  it  is  with  unqualified  faith  in  the  future  and  pride 
of  the  past  that  I  see  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  go  into  a  new 
sector,  certain  in  my  conviction  that  the  men  of  New  England 
will  prove  once  more  that  they  are  capable  of  every  effort  and 
every  sacrifice  which  the  future  may  demand  of  them. 

C.  R.  Edwards, 
Major-General,  Commanding. 


91 


CHAPTER  XI 

"  Saviors  of  Paris  " 

The  entire  Second  Division  was  immediately  relieved, 
concentrated  in  the  Meaux  area,  and  the  majority  re- 
moved to  Soissons.  The  Yankee  Division  men  took 
over  the  sector  on  an  extended  front,  and  were  the  only 
troops  between  Chateau-Thierry  and  Paris.  As  a  result 
of  their  defence  of  this  line  they  received  the  name  of 
the  "Saviors  of  Paris." 

Then  Marshal  Foch  pulled  off  the  boldest  stroke 
of  the  war.  With  the  Boche  very  much  occupied  to  the 
east  of  Chateau-Thierry  in  the  second  battle  of  the 
Marne,  with  his  reserves  drawn  there  in  support  of 
operations.  General  Foch  decided  it  was  an  opportune 
moment  for  a  counter  attack  to  the  right  of  the  Boche 
right  flank;  that  is,  on  the  sector  north  and  west  of 
Chateau-Thierry.  Chateau-Thierry  was  the  nose  of 
a  big  salient,  and  was  the  pivot  of  Foch's  plan  to  envelop, 
by  an  advance  towards  the  east  and  south,  the  Boche 
in  the  salient.  It  was  a  bold  stroke  in  that  he  had  no 
reserves,  yet  he  knew  that  the  Boche  had  pulled  all  his 
reserves  away  to  strengthen  his  attack  on  the  Marne. 

At  this  time  Colonel  Shelton  had  been  promoted  to 
brigadier-general,  and  was  in  command  of  the  Fifty- 
First  Infantry  Brigade,  General  Traub  having  been  trans- 
ferred to  another  division ;  General  Cole  still  commanded 
the  Fifty-Second  Infantry  Brigade,  while  Colonel  Sher- 
burne of  the  101st  Field  Artillery  had  been  made  brigadier- 
general  and  commanded  the  artillery  brigade. 

"The  Stars  and  Stripes,"  the  paper  published  behind 

92 


Colonel  George  W.  Bunnell 


Underwood  &  Underwood,  New  York 
Wild  Boar,  Mascot  of  M.  D.  S.  Riders,  Boucq,  France, 

April  4,  1918 


V     /f 


WMLit' 


/ 


"'■''. 


lOlst  Ammunition  Train  Theatre,  France 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

the  lines  by  members  of  the  American  Expeditionary 
Forces,  comprehensively  described  the  part  taken  by  the 
Twenty-sixth  Division  in  this  battle,  as  follows:  — 

The  sector  northwest  of  Cli^teau-Thierry  was  not  a  pleasant 
place  in  the  middle  of  July,  1918.  The  shallow  and  incomplete 
trenches  extending  from  near  Vaux  and  Bouresches  around  the 
east  and  north  edges  of  the  Bois  de  Belleau  to  a  point  near 
Bussares  were  under  constant  harassing  fire  from  the  German 
batteries  running  far  back  across  the  hills  to  the  northeast, 
while  German  machine  guns  and  snipers  were  comfortably 
installed  all  along  the  edges  of  the  woods,  the  banks  of  the  Ru 
Gobert  creek,  and  in  the  ruined  villages  of  Belleau  and  Torcy, 
close  to  the  American  front  lines. 

After  a  week  of  existence  under  such  circumstances  the 
situation  became  irksome,  and  there  was  no  regret  or  hesita- 
tion in  the  ranks  of  the  Twenty-sixth,  when,  on  the  night  of 
July  17,  orders  came  from  General  Liggett,  commanding  the 
First  United  States  Corps,  to  go  over  next  morning  and  chase 
the  Germans  out. 

There  was  no  hesitation,  but  from  the  tactical  standpoint 
the  problem  was  a  diflScult  one.  As  the  division  lay  in  sector, 
the  101st  Infantry  was  on  the  extreme  right  near  Vaux,  facing 
north;  then  came  the  102d  Infantry,  extending  to  a  little 
beyond  Bouresches,  facing  east;  then  the  104th  Infantry,  in 
the  Bois  de  Belleau,  facing  east  and  northeast;  and  then  the 
103d  Infantry,  on  the  extreme  left,  facing  northeast  and  north. 

By  the  terms  of  the  general  counter-offensive  the  Twenty- 
sixth  Division  was  to  act  as  a  pivot  until  the  bulge  in  the  allied 
front  running  northwest  toward  the  Forest  de  Villers-Cot- 
terets  should  be  hammered  in.  This  required  the  left  of  the 
division  to  attack  northward  and  northeastward,  pivoting  on 
Bouresches  and  guiding  on  the  One  hundred  and  Sixty-seventh 
French  Division  to  its  left,  never  getting  ahead  of  the  latter, 
but  swinging  gradually  to  the  northeast  until  the  whole  front  to 
its  left  should  have  been  straightened. 

This  accomplished,  it  would  next  be  necessary  for  the  right 

93 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

of  the  division  to  attack,  half  of  it  to  the  eastward  and  half  of 
it  to  the  northward,  conquer  the  woods  in  front,  and  then 
execute  a  half  turn  to  the  northeast  to  bring  itself  in  alignment 
with  the  general  front.  Then,  and  then  only,  a  straightaway 
advance  to  the  northeast  would  be  in  order.  It  was  a  problem 
for  Yankee  ingenuity  to  solve,  and  as  usual  it  was  solved. 

Three  support  battalions  of  General  Cole's  brigade  went 
through  the  front  line  without  artillery  preparation,  but  covered 
by  a  neutralization  fire  from  the  batteries  of  the  101st  Field 
Artillery,  at  4.35  o'clock  that  morning,  —  the  2d  Battalion 
of  the  103d  Infantry,  charging  northeast  out  of  the  Bois  de 
Belleau  to  take  the  railroad  line  in  the  creek  valley  between 
Bouresches  and  Belleau;  the  3d  Battalion  of  the  104th  going 
north  to  take  Belleau  and  Givry  and  the  railroad  between  them; 
and  the  3d  Battalion  of  the  103d,  on  the  left,  also  going  north 
to  take  Torcy  and  the  railroad  beyond. 

A  hea\y  morning  mist  favored  the  attack,  and  the  enemy 
—  the  Two  hundred  and  First  Division  of  General  von  Boehn's 
Seventh  German  Army  —  was  taken  by  surprise.  At  5.40  a.m. 
a  signal  rocket,  thrown  up  from  Torcy,  announced  to  the 
American  observation  posts  that  Major  Southard's  men  were 
in  the  town,  which,  in  fact,  they  immediately  went  beyond, 
taking  the  railroad  grade  and  creek  bank,  where  they  consoli- 
dated their  position. 

The  center  battalion,  becoming  confused  in  the  darkness  of 
the  Bois  de  Belleau,  had  its  attack  delayed  and  did  not  jump  off 
until  7.30.  But  then,  although  the  enemy  was  now  thoroughly 
aroused  and  making  a  vigorous  resistance,  the  Americans 
went  through  everything,  —  cleaned  up  Belleau  and  then 
Givry  in  a  sharp  bayonet  fight  which  was  over  by  8.30,  and 
then,  emulating  the  Union  troops  at  Missionary  Ridge,  rushed 
on  half-way  up  the  slopes  of  Hill  193,  north  of  Givry,  before 
they  could  be  stopped. 

This  hill,  however,  was  in  the  sector  of  the  One  hundred  and 
Sixty-seventh  French  Division,  and  though  the  advancing 
troops  of  the  latter  were  still  far  from  it,  the  Americans  were 
recalled  and  the  German  machine  gunners  reoccupied  it,  as 

94 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

from  it  they  had  a  commanding  enfilade  fire  westward  along 
the  front  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh  Division,  and 
a  still  better  fire  southward  on  any  position  the  Americans 
might  take  up  along  the  creek  valley  or  the  hills  east  of  it,  as 
far  as  Bouresches. 

This  last  fact  had  a  direct  bearing  on  the  attack  of  the  Ameri- 
can right  battalion  which  went  over,  with  the  center  battalion, 
at  7.30  and  captured  the  railroad  and  also  the  creek  beyond, 
but  was  obliged  to  fall  back  from  the  latter  and  to  remain 
clinging  only  with  the  greatest  difficulty  to  the  railroad  grade, 
owing  to  the  enfilade  from  Hill  193.  Here  Captain  Hosford's 
men,  burrowing  out  fox-holes  along  the  grade,  stayed  all  day, 
while  many  such  acts  of  heroism  were  performed  as  those  of 
Mechanic  J.  A.  Thibodeau,  who  aided  the  wounded  under 
fire  until  a  shot  in  the  hand  prevented  him  from  carrying 
stretchers  any  longer,  when  he  joined  the  line  and  continued 
fighting  until  shot  again  in  the  leg. 

But  across  the  fire-swept  belt  in  rear  of  them  it  was  im- 
possible to  bring  supplies  of  ammunition,  and  after  dark  they 
fell  back  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  the  detachment  of  the  102d 
Infantry,  which  had  gone  forward  with  them  and  taken  the 
Bouresches  railroad  station,  contriving  to  remain  in  possession 
of  this  slightly  less  exposed  point. 

The  battalion  in  Torcy  and  that  under  Major  Lewis  in  Bel- 
leau  and  Givry  were  not  so  badly  off  where  they  lay,  but  the 
ground  between  them  and  the  woods  was  an  inferno,  and  on 
it  out  of  22  runners  going  back  and  forth  with  messages  during 
the  day,  5  were  killed  and  12  wounded,  only  a  few  getting 
through,  as  did  Private  John  W.  Roy,  Company  H,  who  deliv- 
ered one  message  after  seeing  three  preceding  rimners  killed 
and  one  wounded  on  the  same  route  which  he  took. 

There  was  nothing  now  for  the  Twenty-sixth  to  do  but 
hold  on  grimly  and  wait  for  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty -seventh 
Division  to  attain  its  first  objective,  the  line  Givry-Monthiers, 
which  included  the  summit  of  Hill  193.  On  the  evening  of  the 
18th  the  French  were  nearly  up  to  Licy-Clignon,  and  the  next 
evening  they  were  circling  the  western  base  of  Hill  193.    So, 

95 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

assuming  that  they  would  take  the  hill  in  a  simultaneous  assault, 
a  general  advance  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  was  ordered 
for  3  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  20th,  the  object  being  to 
align  the  whole  front  facing  northeast  on  an  intermediate 
objective  hne  along  the  hill  crests  beyond  the  creek  valley,  and 
extending  from  Les  Brusses  Farm,  about  a  kilometer  east  of 
Belleau,  through  Hill  190  to  La  Goneterie  Farm. 

There  was  no  preliminary  fire  by  the  corps  artillery,  but 
under  such  barrage  as  could  be  afforded  by  that  of  the  division 
the  attack  went  off  on  time.  On  the  division  right  the  assault 
troops  of  General  Shelton's  Fifty-first  Brigade  successfully 
solved  their  difficult  problem,  the  3d  Battalion  of  the  102d 
Infantry,  on  the  left,  going  northeast  into  the  Bois  de  Bou- 
resches  and  clearing  it,  after  which,  on  the  other  flank,  the 
3d  Battalion  of  the  101st  Infantry  drove  north  into  the  Bois 
de  la  Halmardiere,  echeloning  on  the  left  when  in  contact 
with  the  other  battalion,  and  thus  swinging  itself  to  face  north- 
east also. 

On  the  division  left,  the  Fifty-second  Brigade  had  a  harder 
time.  The  shifting  of  battalions  under  the  enemy's  fire  from  a 
front  facing  north  to  make  an  attack  eastward  involved  some 
nice  maneuvering,  but  Major  Lewis'  tired  men  w'ent  out  of 
Belleau,  up  the  railroad,  across  the  creek  and  took  Les  Brusses 
Farm  on  schedule  time,  while  Major  Hanson's  1st  Battalion 
of  the  103d  Infantry,  leaving  the  Bois  de  Belleau  and  sur- 
mounting the  same  obstacles  a  little  farther  south,  rushed 
several  machine-gun  nests,  took  some  prisoners,  guns  and 
ammunition,  and  was  firmly  in  possession  of  Hill  190  and  in 
liaison  with  the  troops  in  the  Bois  de  Bouresches  by  6  p.m. 
But  unfortunately,  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh  French 
Division,  in  two  gallant  assaults,  was  unable  to  take  Hill  193, 
and  through  the  night  the  German  machine  guns  so  swept  the 
American  left  that  the  captors  of  Les  Brusses  Farm  were 
isolated  there. 

The  nut,  however,  was  cracked.  On  the  morning  of  the 
21st  the  Germans,  reeling  from  their  repulse  along  CO  bloody 
miles    to   the   eastward,    and  fearful  now  of  being  strangled 

96 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

out  of  Chdteau-Thierry  between  the  Twenty-sixth  and  Third 
United  States  and  the  Thirty-ninth  French  Divisions,  were 
in  full  retreat. 

Leaving  behind  them  at  last  the  woods  and  the  fields  in 
which  for  more  than  seven  weeks,  while  the  wheat  ripened  and 
the  poppies  bloomed  and  faded,  the  doggedness  of  America 
had  been  pitted  against  the  stubbornness  of  Germany,  the 
Twenty-sixth  swept  forward  in  pursuit. 

All  day  long  it  was  a  matter  of  marching  across  xountry 
in  columns  headed  by  advance  guards,  and  it  was  not  until 
near  evening,  after  a  march  of  nearly  9  kilometers  had  carried 
the  advance  far  across  the  Soissons-Chdteau-Thierry  highway, 
that  heavy  machine-gun  fire  stopped  the  forward  movement 
and  brought  warning  that  the  enemy  had  made  a  stand  in 
the  broad,  shallow  creek  valley  in  which  lie  the  tiny  villages 
of  Trugny  and,  a  kilometer  north  of  it,  Epieds. 

Half  a  kilometer  east  of  the  villages,  up  the  gently  sloping 
fields,  was  the  leafy  margin  of  the  Bois  de  Trugny,  bristling, 
of  course,  with  hidden  machine  guns,  and  spreading  out  south- 
ward into  the  greater  forest  of  the  Bois  de  Barbillon.  The 
same  old  allied  divisions,  in  fact,  were  up  against  the  point  of 
the  same  old  German  salient,  somewhat  blunted,  since  it  had 
dropped  back  6  kilometers  from  Chdteau-Thierry,  but  still 
a  point,  with  the  Twenty-sixth  United  States  on  one  side  of 
it,  the  Thirty-ninth  French  tearing  blindly  at  the  apex  in  the 
obscurity  of  the  Bois  de  Barbillon,  and  the  Third  United  States 
on  the  other  side  scaling  the  ravines  from  the  Marne,  with  its 
left  flank  at  Mont  St.  Pere,  not  4  kilometers  from  Trugny. 

Excepting  for  the  advance  guard  under  Major  Lewis,  most 
of  the  troops  of  the  Twenty-sixth  snatched  a  few  hours'  rest 
two  or  three  kilometers  west  of  the  German  machine  guns  in 
Epieds  and  Trugny,  and  along  the  country  road  between. 
But  at  gray  dawn  they  assaulted,  one  battalion  each  of  the 
103d  and  the  104th  Infantry  advancing  on  Epieds,  two  and 
one-liulf  battalions  of  the  101st  moving  along  the  edge  of  the 
Bois  de  Barbillon,  about  a  kilometer  south  of  Trugny,  in  an 
attempt  to  flank  the  villages. 

»7 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

The  divisional  batteries,  emplaced  four  or  five  kilometers 
back,  did  not  know  where  the  front  lines  were,  and  could  not 
deliver  an  effective  barrage,  while  the  enemy's  artillery,  ad- 
justed by  airplanes,  poured  in  a  deluge  of  gas  and  high  explo- 
sives. Moreover,  there  was  an  uncaptured  German  machine- 
gun  stronghold  at  La  Gouttiere  Farm,  in  the  sector  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh  Division,  which  galled  the 
assaulting  troops  in  left  flank  and  rear. 

Yet  the  men  of  the  left  and  center  went,  1,000  or  more,  into 
the  edges  of  Trugny  and  Epieds  before  they  were  turned  back, 
while  the  101st  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  skirting  with  the 
infantry  of  its  regiment  the  Bois  de  Barbillon,  penetrated  the 
Bois  de  Trugny,  and,  when  finally  forced  back  by  concentrated 
fire,  stopped  defiantly  directly  south  of  Trugny  and  stayed 
there,  on  the  enemy's  flank.  Three  battalions  of  General 
Cole's  troops  repeated  the  attack  on  the  left  in  the  afternoon, 
but  with  no  better  success,  for  La  Gouttiere  Farm  was  still 
untaken,  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh  Division  being 
engaged  all  day  in  a  bitter  struggle  beating  off  German  counter- 
attacks, —  a  struggle  in  which  the  Twenty-sixth  Division 
artillery  several  times  took  a  hand  by  extending  its  zone  of 
fire  entirely  across  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh's  sector. 

Liaison  was  very  difficult  under  such  conditions,  but  it  was 
maintained  by  men  like  Corporal  J.  L.  Casey,  Company  I, 
102d  Infantry,  who  once  established  communication  between 
his  own  and  the  regiment  on  the  left  across  an  open  field  500 
yards  wide  after  three  other  men  had  been  killed  by  machine 
guns  in  making  the  attempt. 

The  location  of  the  American  front  line  being  more  accurately 
known  on  the  morning  of  the  23d,  the  artillery  prepared  the 
way  by  fire  of  destruction  for  a  renewal  of  the  attack  from 
the  right  flank  on  the  Bois  de  Trugny,  which  was  made  by  the 
101st  Infantry,  extended  to  the  left  by  the  2d  Battalion  of  the 
101st  Engineers,  under  Major  Greenway. 

At  first  handsome  progress  was  made,  and  at  noon  the  battle 
line  was  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  woods.  But  later  it  en- 
countered concentrations  of   machine  guns  in  front  and  on 

98 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

both  flanks  so  numerous  and  so  skilfully  concealed  that  they 
could  not  be  overcome,  and  the  assailants,  after  suffering  heavy 
losses,  were  forced  to  fall  back  to  the  other  edge  of  the  woods, 
leaving  a  good  many  wounded  men  among  the  trees.  The 
intensity  of  the  struggle  here  was  illustrated  by  such  acts  as 
that  of  Sergeant  J.  W.  Casey,  Company  F,  who,  after  capturing 
with  his  platoon  two  machine-gun  nests  and  killing  the  occu- 
pants, dashed  out  single-handed  and  killed  three  German 
snipers  who  were  shooting  at  his  men. 

The  division  by  this  time  was  so  wearied  by  its  losses  and  its 
desperate  fighting  that  during  the  night  the  corps  command 
placed  Brigadier-General  Wilham  Weigel's  Fifty-sixth  Infantry 
Brigade  of  the  Twenty-eighth  United  States  Division  at  the 
disposal  of  General  Edwards,  to  assist  in  carrying  forward  the 
attack.  Dispositions  were  made  accordingly,  but  about  4 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  patrols  found  that  the 
enemy,  like  a  fencer  on  guard,  had  again  jumped  back. 

Once  more  came  the  majestic  forward  sw^eep  of  the  allied 
battle  front  across  the  hills,  the  Twenty-sixth  following  in  its 
sector  with  the  motorized  101st  Machine  Gun  Battalion  (divi- 
sional) in  lieu  of  cavalry,  leading  the  pursuit  in  the  direction 
of  the  Jaulgonne-Fere-en-Tardenois  highway,  a  good  5}/^ 
kilometers  northeast  of  the  Bois  de  Trugny.  Pushing  through 
the  central  part  of  the  Foret  de  Fere,  the  advance  was  held 
up  just  west  of  the  road  early  in  the  evening  by  machine-gun 
fire,  coming  from  the  clearing  and  the  massively  constructed 
buildings  of  La  Croix  Rouge  Farm. 

The  flank  divisions  having  also  been  stopped  by  opposition 
along  the  same  line,  the  Twenty-sixth  waited  for  daylight  to 
resume  the  push  toward  the  Ourcq,  but  before  that  time  the 
arrival  of  the  Forty-second  United  States  Division  by  autobus 
permitted  the  weary  Twenty-sixth  to  be  at  last  relieved.  Leav- 
ing the  51st  Artillery  Brigade  and  the  101st  Engineers  to  go 
on  for  a  time  with  the  fresh  division,  the  Twenty-sixth  marched 
back  to  a  rest  area  at  Etrepilly,  the  command  of  the  front  sector 
passing  from  General  Edwards  to  General  Menoher  at  7  p.m., 
July  25. 

99 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

The  division,  in  its  eight  days  of  continuous  battle,  had 
advanced  a  distance  of  18}/^  kilometers,  captured  about  250 
prisoners,  four  field-pieces,  numerous  machine  guns,  one  pon- 
toon train  and  quantities  of  ammunition.  Its  losses  had  been 
about  5,300  officers  and  men,  of  whom  600  were  killed.  The 
general  commanding  estimated  that  the  permanent  losses, 
including  killed,  missing  and  badly  wounded  or  gassed,  were 
about  2,000,  many  of  the  casualties  being  due  to  the  fact  that 
the  division,  after  gaining  its  first  objectives,  had  to  wait  during 
two  days  under  severe  fire  for  the  forces  to  the  left  to  come  up 
to  the  line  established  at  the  pivot  by  "New  England's  Own." 


100 


Colonel  W.  E.  Sweetser 


Underwood  &  Underwood,  New  York 

Decoration  of  Regimental  Colors  of  104th  Infantry  (the  First  Ameri- 
can Regiment  decorated  with  Croix  de  Guerre  for  Bravery  under 
Fire),  Boucq,  France,  April  23,  1918 


I  iiIiTiiat  iiiiial    liliii    SiT\"ii'i',   [uc. 

Members  of  lOlst  and  103d  Field  Artillery,  Rangeval,  France, 

April  29,  1918 


CHAPTER  XII 
Germans  '*  Pinched  Out" 

The  *'Sta,rs  and  Stripes'"  description  of  the  battle, 
while  extremely  comprehensive  in  the  larger  phases, 
naturally  omits  many  important  details  which  at  the 
time  it  was  impossible  to  secure.  For  instance,  when 
the  division  was  held  up  at  Epieds  and  Trugny,  they 
were  ordered  to  make  a  frontal  attack,  after  having 
already  made  two  without  success.  General  Edwards 
thought  that  would  entail  too  great  a  sacrifice. 

He  suggested  a  flank  attack,  which  would  require  the 
division  to  move  over  to  the  right  in  the  French  sector 
to  launch  the  attack.  Permission  was  given  to  do  this 
by  the  French  corps  commander  on  the  right,  and  the 
attack  was  made,  but  met  with  very  strong  and  deter- 
mined resistance.  Then,  at  night,  a  situation  arose  that 
demanded  immediate  action.  General  Edwards  called 
General  Shelton  on  the  telephone,  and  again  gave  him 
verbal  orders  to  attack  through  the  Trugny  Wood, 
against  which  General  Shelton  and  Colonel  Logan  advised. 
Nevertheless,  General  Edwards  ordered  this  movement 
carried  out  and  assumed  the  entire  responsibility.  His 
instructions  were  obeyed,  with  the  result  that  the  Ger- 
mans were  pinched  out  of  the  stronghold,  which  made  it 
possible  for  the  division  to  advance  with  little  resistance 
the  following  morning. 

We  had  so  many  casualties  [said  General  Edwards,  in  speak- 
ing of  this  incident],  that  I  went  out  and  took  a  look  for  myself. 
"Stop  it,"  I  said,  "You're  disobeying  the  orders  of  your  array 

101 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

commander,"  said  General  Shelton.  I  said:  "There  is  one 
thing  I'm  going  to  take  home  with  me,  and  that's  my  own 
self-respect.  I  asked  them  to  go  and  they'd  go.  I've  got  to 
answer  my  own  Leader:  'Have  you  done  everything  in  your 
power  to  win  that  battle  with  the  least  number  of  casual- 
ties?'" 

I  ordered  the  101st  up  at  Trumiere.  Some  one  said  it  couldn't 
be  done.  I  said:  "It  will  be  done.  If  necessary  I  will  com- 
mand the  leading  battalion  myself." 

Colonel  Logan  heard  this.  "General,"  he  said,  "if  you 
want  it  done  it  certainly  will  be  done."  I  was  told  that  Logan 
said:  "Tell  General  Edwards  we  will  go  any  place  under  God's 
sky  that  he  suggests." 

Captain  McConnell  led  his  command  through  those  woods. 
There  were  machine-gun  nests  in  the  trees,  fox-holes  and 
snipers,  and  a  gas  barrage.  Captain  Leahy  was  killed.  That 
night  I  heard  that  they  had  left  400  of  their  wounded.  I  told 
them  to  go  back  and  recover  the  wounded  and  keep  going. 
They  had  been  fighting  steadily  for  seven  days.  They  marched 
forty-eight  hours,  night  and  day,  without  sitting  down.  General 
Shelton  said  they  were  near  done.  They  would  fall  asleep 
against  a  tree  and  sleep  sixteen  hours.  The  word  went  down: 
"Edwards  wants  it,"  and  they  went  through  out  of  personal 
loyalty  to  me.  There  were  many  dead  men,  but  the  losses, 
as  always,  were  exaggerated. 

When  the  Fifty-second  Brigade  relieved  the  marines  in 
Belleau  Wood  I  walked  around  with  fingers  crossed  and  did 
a  little  private  praying.  I  was  told  of  the  large  number  of  dead 
marines  and  Boches.  I'm  a  crank  on  things  that  affect  morale. 
It's  a  bad  thing  when  making  a  relief  to  come  on  the  dead 
bodies  of  comrades.  I  decided  they  must  be  buried  before  our 
men  came  in.  I  said:  "Go  and  see  if  any  of  the  engineers  will 
volunteer."  Their  colonel  said  that  every  company  would 
volunteer.  That  shows  the  camaraderie  of  this  division. 
Standing  two  days  under  fire  and  going  out  to  bury  thousands 
of  men. 

Captain    "Nat"   Simpkins,    my   aide,    begged   me  to  keep 

102 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

away  from  the  front  lines.  I  wouldn't  pay  any  attention  to 
him,  and  on  the  Marne  I  spent  as  much  time  with  my  boys  as 
I  could. 

On  July  21  orders  were  received  from  the  corps  com- 
mander to  move  divisional  headquarters  from  Mery-sur- 
Marne  to  Lucy-le-Bocage.  The  latter  was  formerly  a 
village,  but  at  this  time  there  was  nothing  left  but  piles 
of  stone  which  afforded  no  shelter.  This  place  was 
located  on  the  side  of  a  hill  and  was  under  constant  shell 
fire.  The  Yankee  troops  were  moving  forward  at  this 
time,  but  it  was  decided  to  set  up  the  headquarters  kitchen 
and  serve  luncheon.  While  luncheon  was  being  served 
the  enemy  began  to  drop  gas  shells  in  the  vicinity,  and 
eating  became  a  problem  for  General  Edwards  and  his 
staff.  At  length  Captain  Hyatt,  declaring  that  if  he 
didn't  eat  he  would  die  anyway,  took  off  his  mask  and 
finished  lunch,  an  example  which  was  followed  by  the 
others. 

Headquarters  was  then  moved  to  Grand  Ru  Farm, 
nearby,  through  fields  covered  with  dead  Germans.  The 
farm  had  been  a  Boche  dressing  station,  and  there  were 
a  number  of  dead  Germans  in  the  barn. 

The  place  was  in  filthy  condition,  and  it  was  necessary 
for  it  to  be  cleaned  up  before  the  staff  could  occupy  it. 
The  thousands  of  dead  men  and  horses  had  attracted 
myriads  of  bluebottle  flies,  whose  buzzing,  of  course, 
could  not  be  heard  over  the  tremendous  din  caused  by  the 
constant  shelling.  There  w^as  wreckage  and  debris  every- 
where, a  typical  scene  of  death  and  destruction.  Because 
of  the  flies,  many  of  the  men  became  aflSicted  with  acute 
dysentery. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  labor  troops  and  engineers  had 
been  so  busy  in  keeping  up  the  roads,  and  also  taking 

103 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

part  in  the  fighting,  it  had  been  impossible  for  them  to 
bury  any  of  the  dead.  After  the  fight  was  over,  and  the 
Boche  had  been  driven  back,  Captain  Hyatt  made  a 
tour  of  the  area,  and  saw  thousands  of  German  bodies. 
He  also  saw  enormous  quantities  of  ammunition  brought 
in  by  the  Germans  for  their  offensive  towards  Paris. 
There  were  piles  as  large  as  houses,  some  of  which  the 
enemy  had  tried  to  blow  up  in  his  retreat,  but  without 
success. 

At  Trugny  the  Yankees  captured  a  German  howitzer, 
which  later  found  its  way  to  Boston  Common.  The 
question  as  to  how  this  was  accomplished  is  answered  by 
the  following  letter:  — 

Headquarters  Twenty-sixth  Division, 

American  Expeditionary  Forces. 

From:      Commanding  General. 

To:  Commanding  General,  First  Army  Corps. 

Subject:  Disposition  of  Captured  210-m.m.  Howitzer. 

1.  The  troops  of  my  division  captured  several  field  pieces 
and  other  munitions,  and  also  a  210  m.m.  howitzer.  This  latter 
piece  was  captured  by  infantry  on  the  22d  of  July  at  Trugny. 

The  piece  is  pretty  well  battered  up,  showing  several  shrapnel 
and  shell-splinter  wounds  on  the  wheels  of  the  piece,  as  well  as 
the  piece  itself. 

2.  I  request  authority  to  ship  this  piece  to  Boston,  to  be 
placed  temporarily,  at  least,  on  the  Boston  Common  as  a 
capture  of  this  division,  pending  its  ultimate  disposition.  This 
piece  is  quite  an  unusual  relic.  It  would  delight  everybody 
in  New  England,  and  I  believe  it  would  have  a  propaganda 
effect  of  stimulating  recruiting.  I  understand  this  is  not  with- 
out precedent,  as  other  units  have  sent  pieces  to  West  Point. 

3.  I  have  this  piece  under  guard  at  my  headquarters,  prop- 
erly marked,  and  in  view  of  the  possible  immediate  move  of 
this  division  to  some  other  locality  I  request  that  the  piece 

104 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 

be  shipped  to  some  A.  E.  F.  base  so  that  it  may  be  forwarded 
to  the  destination  I  suggest. 

C.  R.  Edwards, 
Major-General. 

After  the  men  of  the  Yankee  Division  had  been  fighting 
for  six  days  or  more  without  rest  or  sleep,  their  food  was 
brought  up  and  put  into  their  mess  kits.  Each  man  would 
then  seek  a  stump  or  rock  to  lean  against,  and  it  was  a 
common  occurrence  to  see  men  sitting  down,  sound 
asleep,  with  heaped-up  mess  kits  in  their  hands. 

Literally  thousands  of  citations,  both  divisional  and 
French,  were  made  as  a  result  of  the  heroism  of  the 
members  of  the  Twenty-sixth  during  this  battle.  French 
commanders  showered  General  Edwards  and  his  men  with 
compliments,  and  declared  that  it  was  the  most  brilliant 
piece  of  work  they  had  ever  seen. 


105 


CHAPTER  XIII 

General  Degoutte's  Tributes 

The  following  is  General  Degoutte's  marginal  comment 
given  to  the  French  press  after  the  advance  of  the  New 
Englanders  at  Chateau-Thierry :  — 

If  one  wants  to  judge  the  offensive  spirit  which  animates 
the  Americans  and  their  tactical  methods,  one  has  only  to 
follow  in  detail  the  operations  of  a  division  since  the  beginning 
of  our  counter  attack  between  Chateau-Thierry  and  Soissons. 

It  was  on  the  18th,  at  4  a.m.,  that  the  order  to  take  the  first 
line  of  German  positions  was  received.  The  American  division, 
whose  movements  we  will  relate,  was  at  that  time  northwest  of 
Chateau-Thierry,  in  the  Bois  de  Belleau,  at  the  pivot  of  the 
Degoutte  Army.  This  division  was  made  up  of  New  England 
troops,  and  had  taken  the  place  of  a  division  which  took  part 
in  the  operations  of  Belleau  and  Bouresches,  and  it  wanted  to 
distinguish  itself  as  well  as  those  €[\ie  troops.  But  the  divisions 
placed  at  the  pivot  have  to  advance  slowly,  according  to  the 
progress  made  by  the  wings. 

On  the  very  first  day  it  was  necessary  to  moderate  the  order 
of  the  Americans,  who  would  wilhngly  have  gone  farther 
than  the  first  objectives.  Indeed,  at  the  signal  of  the  attack 
the  American  troops  went  with  perfect  discipline,  in  rear  of 
the  artillery  barrage,  to  the  Torcy-Belleau-Givry  line  and  the 
railroad  line  up  to  the  Bouresches  station.  They  reached  this 
line  in  one  sweep,  almost  without  meeting  any  resistance,  and, 
excited  by  their  success,  they  wanted  to  go  farther. 

However,  it  was  necessary,  before  continuing  the  general 
advance,  to  take  Monthiers  and  Petret  Wood,  still  strongly 
occupied  by  the  Germans.    There  was  hard  fighting  on  the  part 

106 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

of  the  French  troops  on  the  left  to  annihilate  the  resistance  of 
the  enemy. 

In  order  to  relieve  them,  the  Americans,  on  the  evening  of 
the  20th,  made  an  enveloping  maneuver  which  was  crowned 
with  success.  With  splendid  valiance  they  went  in  one  sweep 
as  far  as  Etrepilly  height,  the  Gonetrie  Farm  and  Halmardiere. 
It  was  a  model  surprise  attack,  and  it  was  a  revelation  of 
American  audacity.  Notwithstanding  the  machine-gun  bar- 
rage and  the  enemy's  islands  of  resistance,  they  advanced  for 
2  kilometers,  capturing  three  guns,  a  big  minnenwerfer  and 
numerous  machine  guns.  Moreover,  200  prisoners  were  taken 
by  the  Americans. 

I  could  not  have  done  better  in  a  similar  occasion,  with  my 
best  troops. 

The  Germans  then  found  themselves  in  such  an  unfavorable 
position  in  Monthiers  that  they  had  to  begin  a  retreat. 

On  the  21st  the  whole  German  line  was  in  retreat,  and  the 
Ch^teau-Thierry-Soissons  highway  was  reached.  The  Ameri- 
cans were  cleaning  the  ground  and  vigorously  pursued  the 
enemy's  rear  guard. 

On  the  22d  a  battalion  of  Americans  occupied  Epieds.  There 
was  hard  fighting  in  the  village,  and  the  enemy  opened  a  violent 
barrage  fire.  The  fight  was  in  open  country,  and  on  that  day 
it  was  not  possible  to  take  the  village  entirely.  Rather  than 
to  sustain  heavy  losses  the  commander  of  the  American  divi- 
sion preferred  to  take  his  troops  to  the  rear.  It  was  necessary, 
if  the  difficulty  was  to  be  overcome,  to  start  the  surrounding 
movement  again,  and  on  the  23d  the  Americans  sought  to 
enter  the  Trugny  Wood,  south  of  Epieds.  The  Germans 
strongly  opposed  this  attempt,  and  counter  attacked  with 
energy,  but  they  learned  at  their  expense  what  American 
tenacity  is.  Stopped  once  in  the  maneuver,  the  Americans 
occupied  the  fringe  of  the  wood  on  the  24th,  entered  it  delib- 
erately, took  a  whole  company  of  German  pioneers,  and  con- 
tinued their  advance  with  such  fury  that  about  3  p.m.  they 
were  at  the  fringe  of  the  Fere  Wood,  and  on  the  same  evening 
had  reached  the  road  from  Fere-en-Tardenois  to  Jaulgonne. 

107 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

This  American  division  has,  therefore,  realized  in  three 
days  an  advance  of  as  much  as  17  kilometers  at  certain  points, 
fighting  continuously  night  and  day,  and  displaying  the  finest 
military  qualities. 

All  the  liaison  services  worked  perfectly,  both  at  the  right 
and  left  wings,  and  between  the  units  of  the  division,  —  a  disci- 
pline which  caused  the  Germans  to  wonder  and  admire  ani- 
mated the  attacking  troops.  They  were  marching  with  their 
oflBcers  at  the  head  of  the  column  and  their  bodyguards  on  the 
flanks,  as  the  French  troops.  The  German  prisoners  were 
astonished.  "We  do  not  see  often  those  who  command  us," 
they  declared  to  their  captors;  "you're  lucky;  like  the  French 
you  are  led  to  the  fight  by  your  officers."  The  French  and 
American  high  commands  worked  during  the  action  in  as  close 
a  harmony  as  the  troops. 

The  general  commanding  the  division  in  question  is  a  leader 
of  men,  broad-minded,  precise  in  his  orders,  of  practical  mind, 
who,  from  the  first  moment,  dealt  with  the  problems  raised 
by  the  operations  under  way  with  a  mastery  which  cost  dear  to 
the  enemy. 

These  days,  from  the  18th  to  the  26th,  give  a  new  and  em- 
phatic proof  of  what  the  alliance  of  France  and  the  United 
States  can  do  on  a  battlefield. 

Later,  General  Degoutte  sent  the  following  communi- 
cation to  General  Edwards :  — 

Army  Headquarters,  July  29,  1918. 

From:  Major-General  Degoutte,  commanding  the  Sixth  Army. 
To :       General  Edwards,  commanding  the  Twenty-sixth  Ameri- 
can Division. 

The  battles  fought  by  the  Twenty-sixth  American  Division 
from  the  18th  to  the  24th  of  July  have  demonstrated  the  fine 
military  qualities  of  this  organization  and  the  gallantry  of  its 
commander.  General  Edwards. 

Co-operating  in  the  attack  north  of  the  Marne,  the  Twenty- 

108 


Chaplain  Michael  J.  O'Connor 


International  Film  Service,  Inc. 

Anti-aircraft  Gun  of  101st  Field  Artillery,  Chemin  des  Dames,  France, 

March  5,  1918 


International  Film  Service,  Inc. 
Major-General  Peter  E.  Traub  and  Staff  at  P.  C.  L'Hermitage,  France, 

May  11,  1918 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

sixth  Division  fought  briUiantly  on  the  line  Torcy-Belleau,  to 
Monthiers,  to  Epieds  and  Trugny  and  in  the  Forest  of  Fere, 
thus  making  an  advance  of  more  than  15  kilometers  in  depth, 
in  spite  of  the  desperate  resistance  of  the  enemy. 

I  wish  to  express  to  General  Edwards  and  to  his  gallant 
division  my  high  esteem  and  happiest  congratulations  for  the 
manner  in  which  they  have  served  the  common  cause. 

Degoutte. 

General  Edwards,  in  reviewing  the  activities  of  his 
division  in  the  second  battle  of  the  Marne,  issued  the 
following :  — 

Headquarters  Twenty-sixth  Division, 

American  Expeditionary  Forces, 

France,  August  2,  1918. 

General  Orders,  1 
No.  67.  j 

To  the  Officers  and  Men  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division. 

On  July  18  you  entered,  as  part  of  the  allied  drive  against 
the  enemy,  upon  the  offensive,  and  continued  the  offensive 
combat  until  the  major  portion  of  the  command  was  relieved  on 
July  25. 

On  the  assumption  of  the  offensive  your  position  in  the  line 
demanded  an  important  and  difficult  maneuver.  Your  success 
in  this  was  immediate  and  great,  and  the  way  in  which  you 
executed  it  elicited  high  praise  from  the  French  Army  com- 
mander. The  eight  days  from  July  18  to  25,  marking  the  first 
great  advance  against  the  enemy  in  which  American  troops 
bore  proportionately  a  considerable  share,  are  sure  of  historical 
setting.  Your  part  therein  can  never  be  forgotten.  In  those 
eight  days  you  carried  your  line  as  far  as  any  part  of  the  advance 
was  carried.  Torcy,  Belleau,  Givry,  the  Bouresches  Woods, 
Rochet  Woods,  Hill  190,  overlooking  Chateau-Thierry, 
Etrepilly,  Epieds,  Trugny,  and,  finally.  La  Fere  Woods  and 
the  objective,  the  Jaulgonne-Fere-en-Tardenois  road,  belong  to 

109 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

your  arms.  You  are  the  recipient  of  praise,  thanks  and  con- 
gratulations of  your  Commander-in-Chief,  You  went  unafraid 
into  the  face  of  the  enemy's  fire;  you  forced  him  to  withdraw 
before  you  or  to  accept  the  alternative  of  hand-to-hand  combat, 
in  which  you  proved  yourselves  morally  and  physically  his 
superior;  you  gave  freely  and  gave  much  of  your  strength, 
and  of  your  blood  and  lives,  until,  pushed  beyond  mere  phys- 
ical endurance,  fighting  night  and  day,  you  still  forced  your- 
selves forward,  sustained  almost  by  spirit  alone. 

These  things  are  now  part  of  your  own  consciousness.  Noth- 
ing can  detract  from  them.  Nothing  that  I  can  say  can  add  to 
them.  But  I  can  testify  in  this  way  to  my  pride  in  command- 
ing such  troops,  so  capable  of  achieving  success  in  every  under- 
taking; and  this  testimony  I  give  to  each  of  you  gladly  and 
with  deep  gratitude. 

C.  R.  Edwards, 
Major-General,  Commanding. 

These  magnificent  tributes  to  the  boys  of  the  New 
England  division  were  still  further  added  to  by  com- 
mendations from  President  Poincare  of  France  and  the 
mayors  of  the  arrondissement  of  Meaiix.  These  were 
contained  in  the  following  order  issued  by  General 
Degoutte :  — 


No.  2283-3. 


Sixth  Army  Staff,  Third  Bureau, 
P.  C,  July  26,  1918. 


Memorandum. 


The  President  of  the  Republic,  during  a  visit  to  the  Sixth 
Army,  expressed  his  satisfaction  over  the  results  obtained,  as 
well  as  the  proofs  of  valor  and  endurance  shown  by  all  the 
units  of  the  army. 

The  commanding  general  of  the  Sixth  Army  takes  pleasure 
in  communicating  to  the  troops  of  his  army  the  congratulations 
of  the  President  of  the  Republic. 

General  Degoutte. 

110 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

Sixth  Army  Staff,  Third  Bvrbav, 
P.  C,  July  26,  1018. 

No.  2284-3. 

Memorandum. 

The  Commanding  General  of  the  Sixth  Army  brings  to  the 
attention  of  the  troops  of  the  army  the  following  address  received 
from  the  mayors  of  the  arrondissement  of  Meaux,  in  meeting 
assembled,  on  the  20th  of  July,  1918:  — 

The  mayors  of  the  arrondissement  of  Meaux,  in  meeting  assembled, 
on  the  20th  of  July,  1918,  are  happy  to  acknowledge  the  great  victory 
of  the  Sixth  Army  which,  as  at  the  time  of  the  battle  of  the  Marne, 
has  just  saved  their  commune  from  the  invasion  which  was  threaten- 
ing them. 

Send  to  the  valiant  troops  of  the  Sixth  Army  the  most  earnest 
expression  of  their  gratitude  and  admiration. 

The  President  of  the  Congress  of  Mayors, 

G.  HUGEL, 

Mayor  of  Meaux, 
Deputy  from  the  Department  of  Seine  and  Marne. 

The  Commanding  General  of  the  Sixth  Army  takes  pleasure 
in  transmitting  these  congratulations  to  the  troops  of  his  army. 

General  Degoutte. 

Again,  on  August  9,  General  Degoutte  issued  a  General 
Order,  which  read :  — 

Before  the  great  offensive  of  July  18  the  American  troops, 
forming  a  part  of  the  Sixth  French  Army,  distinguished  them- 
selves by  taking  from  the  enemy  the  Bois  de  la  Brigade  de 
Marine  and  the  village  of  Vaux,  stopping  his  offensive  on  the 
Marne  and  at  Fossoy. 

Since  then  they  have  taken  a  most  glorious  part  in  the 
second  battle  of  the  Marne,  rivaling  the  French  troops  in  ardor 
and  gallantry.  In  twenty  days  of  incessant  fighting  they  lib- 
erated numerous  French  villages  and  made,  over  difficult 
terrain,  an  advance  of  40  kilometers,  which  carried  them  beyond 
the  Vesle. 

Ill 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Their  glorious  advance  is  marked  by  names  which,  in  the 
future,  will  make  illustrious  the  military  history  of  the  United 
States:  Torcy,  Belleau,  Plateau  of  Etrepilly,  Epieds,  le  Charmel, 
the  Ourcq,  Seringes-et-Nesles,  Sergy,  the  Vesle  and  Fismes. 

The  new  divisions,  under  fire  for  the  first  time,  showed  them- 
selves worthy  of  the  old  fighting  traditions  of  the  Regular 
Army.  They  had  the  same  ardent  desire  to  whip  the  Boche, 
and  that  discipline  which  always  insures  the  carrying  out  of 
orders  of  their  commander,  whatever  the  difficulties  to  be  over- 
come or  the  sacrifices  to  be  made. 

The  magnificent  results  obtained  are  due  to  the  energy  and 
skilfulness  of  their  commanders,  and  to  the  bravery  of  the 
soldiers. 

I  am  proud  to  have  commanded  such  troops. 

Degoutte, 
The  Commanding  General  of  the  Sixth  Army. 

The  final  eulogy  came  from  General  John  J.  Pershing, 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  American  Expeditionary 
Forces,  who,  in  a  General  Order  dated  August  28,  1918, 
said :  — 

It  fills  me  with  pride  to  record  in  General  Orders  a  tribute 
to  the  service  and  achievements  of  the  First  and  Third  Corps, 
comprising  the  First,  Second,  Fourth,  Twenty-sixth  and  Forty- 
second  Divisions  of  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces. 

You  came  to  the  battlefield  at  the  crucial  hour  of  the  allied 
cause.  For  almost  four  years  the  most  formidable  army  the 
world  had  yet  seen  had  pressed  its  invasion  of  France,  and 
stood  threatening  its  capital.  At  no  time  had  that  army  been 
more  powerful  or  menacing  than  when,  on  July  18,  it  struck 
again  to  destroy  in  one  great  battle  the  brave  men  opposed  to 
it,  and  to  enforce  its  brutal  will  upon  the  world  and  civilization. 

Three  days  later,  in  connection  with  our  Allies,  you  counter 
attacked.  The  allied  armies  gained  a  brilliant  victory  that 
marks  the  turning  point  of  the  war.  You  did  more  than  give 
our  brave  Allies  the  support  to  which  as  a  nation  our  faith  was 

m 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

pledged.  You  proved  that  our  altruism,  our  pacific  spirit,  our 
sense  of  justice  have  not  blunted  our  virility  or  our  courage. 
You  have  shown  that  American  initiative  and  energy  are  as 
fit  for  the  test  of  war  as  for  the  pursuits  of  peace.  You  have 
justly  won  the  unstinted  praise  of  our  Allies  and  the  eternal 
gratitude  of  our  countrymen. 

We  have  paid  for  our  success  in  the  lives  of  many  of  our 
brave  comrades.  We  shall  cherish  their  memory  always,  and 
claim  for  our  history  and  literature  their  bravery,  achievement 
and  sacrifice. 

This  order  will  be  read  to  all  organizations  at  the  first  as- 
sembly formation  after  its  receipt, 

John  J.  Pershing, 
General,  Ccymmander-in-Chief. 
Official: 

Robert  C.  Davis, 
Adjutant-General. 


113 


CHAPTER   XIV 
Sniper  **  Gets  "  Young  "  Scotty  " 

''Scotty"  was  a  sixteen-year-old  member  of  an  auto- 
matic rifle  squad  of  Company  H  of  the  101st  Infantry. 
During  the  fight  at  Chateau-Thierry  he  was  left  the  only 
member  of  his  squad,  all  the  others  having  been  either 
seriously  wounded  or  killed.  "Scotty"  was  covering  a 
defile  in  a  round  through  the  woods,  and  with  his  auto- 
matic rifle  killed  3^  Germans  who  attempted  to  get  by. 
At  length  one  of  the  enemy  who  could  speak  English 
cried  out,  "Don't  shoot,  I'm  an  American."  "Scotty" 
raised  his  head,  and  a  German  sniper  got  him.  His  mother, 
Mrs.  Stuart  C.  Scott  of  Brookline,  received  the  Croix  de 
Guerre  awarded  her  dead  son. 

On  July  15,  when  the  enemy  started  his  attack,  the 
101st  Infantry  absolutely  wiped  out  a  German  attacking 
party.  Other  attacks  were  made,  however,  and  there 
was  almost  incessant  fighting  for  the  next  few  days. 

On  the  morning  of  July  18,  when  the  allied  offensive 
was  launched,  the  Fifty-second  Infantry  Brigade  went 
over  with  only  four  minutes  of  artillery  preparation. 
The  Fifty-first  Infantry  Brigade  was  ordered  to  hold  up 
and  wait  for  the  advance  of  the  line  to  the  north. 

One  battalion  of  the  104th  Infantry  got  lost  in  Belleau 
Woods  while  on  the  way  to  the  jumping-off  place.  The 
men  were  subjected  to  gas  and  high  explosives  bombard- 
ment, and  had  to  scatter.  After  the  bombardment 
the  battalion  commander  started  to  round  up  his  men, 
but  it  was  some  time  before  he  got  them  all  together, 
and  as  a  result  the  attack  was  late. 

114 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

The  other  battalion  of  the  103d  Infantry  got  off  on 
the  dot,  and  with  a  rush  took  Torcy,  Belleau  and  Givry 
in  half  an  hour.  Then  they  chased  the  Boche  up  Hill 
190,  but  were  recalled. 

The  battalion  of  the  104th,  although  starting  late 
captured  all  objectives,  —  Bouresches,  the  Bouresches 
railroad  station,  and  a  mile  of  railway  line.  Then  the 
French  on  the  left  were  held  up  and  the  Americans  were 
forced  to  hold  on  for  two  days,  the  18th  and  19th,  while 
subjected  to  flanking  machine-gun  fire.  It  was  difficult 
to  restrain  the  men,  who  wanted  to  go  forward  and  chase 
the  Boche  into  Germany.  They  wanted  to  attempt  the 
capture  of  a  number  of  big  guns  which  the  Germans  had 
on  their  front. 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th  the  line  up  north  had 
advanced  far  enough  so  that  the  New  Englanders  were 
given  orders  to  attack.  Then  the  French  were  held  at 
Hill  190,  and  General  Edwards  was  given  permission 
to  go  out  and  flank  the  hill.  This  v/as  done  by  one  bat- 
talion who  helped  the  French  to  capture  this  German 
stronghold.  The  French  then  went  on  to  Petret  Woods, 
where  they  were  again  held  up  by  machine  guns. 

On  the  21st  the  New  Englanders  captured  Etrepilly 
and  Etrepilly  plateau,  and  helped  the  French  flank  out 
the  machine  guns.  General  Degoutte,  commanding  the 
Sixth  French  Army,  conducting  the  attack  from  the 
Ourcq  River  to  Chateau-Thierry,  said  that  the  capture 
of  Etrepilly  plateau  enabled  the  whole  army  to  advance 
on  the  next  day. 

By  the  22d  the  Yankees  had  reached  the  Chateau- 
Thierry-Soissons  road,  and  on  the  23d  had  gone  as  far 
as  Epieds  and  Trugny,  which  the  101st  Infantry  had 
captured,  but  from  which  it  was  driven  out  by  machine- 
gun  and  artillery  concentration.     The  Yankees  attacked 

115 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

again  on  the  afternoon  of  the  23d  and  recaptured  both 
towns.  On  the  24th  the  Americans  reached  the  Jaiilgonne- 
Fere-en-Tardenois  road,  where  they  were  reheved  on 
the  night  of  the  24th  and  25th  by  the  Forty-second  Divi- 
sion and  elements  of  the  Twenty -eighth  Division. 

When  the  Boche  started  his  attack  on  the  15th  there 
was  not  a  single  organization  between  the  Twenty -sixth 
Division  and  Paris. 

During  this  battle  Major  Green  way  of  the  101st  Engi- 
neers took  his  battalion  and  helped  capture  Trugny. 
This  was  but  one  of  the  many  times  when  the  engineers 
fought  as  infantry. 

The  Twenty-sixth  of  course  had  no  cavalry,  and  when 
the  enemy  began  to  retreat,  was  apparently  "out  of  it." 
General  Edwards,  however,  called  up  the  motorized  101st 
Machine  Gun  Battalion,  gave  it  the  right  of  way,  and 
sent  it  after  the  Boche  as  independent  cavalry,  with 
orders  to  pursue  with  all  speed.  These  were  the  first 
troops  to  reach  the  Jaulgonne-Fere-en-Tardenois  road. 

The  infantry  only  were  relieved,  the  artillery  and 
engineers  remaining  until  the  line  reached  the  Vesle 
River.  They  were  withdrawn  on  August  3,  after  having 
advanced  over  40  kilometers. 

The  whole  division  was  then  concentrated  around 
La  Ferte,  and  on  August  7  entrained  for  the  training 
area  at  Chatillon  on  the  Seine  River. 

The  following  report  of  operations  in  the  Chateau- 
Thierry  offensive  was  made  by  General  Edwards :  — 

Headquarters  Twenty-sixth  Division, 

American  Expeditionart  Forces, 

France,  August  7,  1918. 

1.  Following  the  receipt  of  memorandum  of  July  16,  1918, 
Headquarters  First  Army  Corps,  subject,  "Action  to  be  taken 
by  the  First  Army  Corps  in  case  of  the  withdrawal  of  the 

116 


Chaplain  Lyman  H.  Rollins 


International  Film  Service,  Inc. 
Interior  of  Post  Office  on  "Mother's  Day,"  Boucq,  France,  May  12, 

1918 


International  Film  Service,  Inc. 

Officers  of  101st  Infantry  examining  Captured  Machine  Gun,  Berne- 
court,  France,  May  31,  1918 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 

enemy,"  the  division  commander  issued  instructions  No.  74, 
and  held  several  conferences  with  his  brigade  commanders, 
discussing  general  plans  for  an  offensive.  (The  location  of  the 
troops  of  this  division  at  this  time  in  Pas  Fini  sector  is  shown 
on  Map  A.) 

July  18 

2.  In  compliance  with  Field  Orders  No.  9,  First  Army  Corps, 
dated  July  17,  1918,  17.30  o'clock  (received  at  22.15  o'clock), 
these  headquarters  issued  Field  Orders  No.  51,  July  18,  1918, 
0.30  o'clock,  ordering  an  attack  by  the  Fifty-second  Infantry 
Brigade  (less  1-104  held  as  corps  reserve)  reinforced  by  three 
half  companies  101st  Engineers,  101st  Machine  Gun  Battahon, 
and  detachments  101st  Field  Signal  Battalion  and  Sanitary 
Troops,  and  supported  by  the  Fifty -first  Field  Artillery  Brigade 
(plus  3d  Battery,  181st  French  Artillery)  and  machine-gun  fire 
by  units  of  the  51st  from  Givry  to  Bouresches  (exclusive). 
Brigade  commanders  with  other  essential  division  officers  were 
present  at  division  headquarters  when  the  division  commander 
explained  the  plans  of  the  corps  commander  with  whom  the 
division  commander  had  been  in  conference. 

3.  On  July  17,  the  commanding  general.  Fifty-second  In- 
fantry Brigade,  had  formulated  and  issued  his  general  plan 
of  attack,  and  this  plan,  with  some  modifications  due  to  a 
change  in  the  initial  mission  given  the  division,  was  issued  as 
an  order  to  subordinate  commanders  immediately  upon  receipt 
of  division  order  for  attack.  The  brigade  commander  ordered 
three  battalions,  with  machine-gun  support,  to  attack  at  H 
hour  (4.35  o'clock,  July  18),  the  remainder  being  disposed  as 
support  and  reserve  troops.     (See  Map  B.) 

4.  The  left  battalion  (111-103)  attacked  at  H  hour  and  en- 
tered Torcy  at  5.40.  The  center  battalion  (111-104)  was  de- 
layed, due  to  its  difficult  march  in  the  dark  in  Belleau  Wood 
under  shell  fire.  Captain  McDade,  temporarily  commanding 
111-104,  was  relieved  by  the  brigade  commander  and  was  re- 
placed by  Major  E.  E.  Lewis,  104th  Infantry,  who  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  front  line  in  Belleau  Wood.    The  attack  was 

117 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

launched  at  7.30  and*  Belleau  and  Givry  were  taken  by  8. SO. 
The  enemy  was  pursued  up  Hill  198  (north  of  Givry),  but  be- 
cause this  was  outside  the  zone  of  action  assigned  to  this  division 
the  troops  were  withdrawn  to  the  northern  edge  of  the  town. 
The  right  battalion  (11-103)  could  not  reach  its  parallel  of  de- 
parture at  the  designated  hour,  but  attacked  at  7.30,  and  at  8 
had  gone  beyond  the  railroad  to  the  Ru  Gobert  and  had  taken 
Bouresches  station. 

5.  The  designated  objectives  were  captured  and  held,  but 
the  retention  by  the  enemy  of  Hill  193  enabled  him  to  impose 
an  effective  machine-gun  fire  on  our  right  battalion.  This 
battalion  was  also  subject  to  a  severe  fire  from  Bouresches 
Wood,  both  artillery  and  machine-gun.  At  nightfall,  there- 
fore, it  was  thought  best  to  retire  this  battalion  to  the  Belleau 
Wood  and  relieve  it  by  1-103.  (The  disposition  of  troops 
night  of  July  18,  19,  is  shown  on  Map  C.) 

Jnhj  19 

6.  Field  Orders  No.  11,  First  Army  Corps,  July  18,  22.40 
o'clock,  ordered  a  resumption  of  the  attack  on  the  following 
morning,  "particular  attention  being  paid  to  regulating  the 
advance  of  each  unit  by  the  progress  of  the  unit  on  its  left." 
At  the  request  of  the  division  on  our  left  Major  Lewis  (111-104) 
attacked  Hill  193  from  the  south  at  22  o'clock,  July  18,  and 
established  a  line  running  north  from  Givry,  but  was  obliged 
to  withdraw  upon  receipt  of  a  message  from  the  division  on 
our  left  to  the  effect  that  they  could  not  co-operate  in  the 
attack.  The  commanding  general.  Fifty-second  Brigade,  re- 
ports that  this  difficult  withdrawal  "was  executed  with  great 
skill  by  the  battalion  and  without  any  casualties."  In  view, 
therefore,  of  the  order  that  troops  must  regulate  on  units  to 
their  left,  this  division  made  no  advance  on  July  19. 

July  20 

7.  In  compliance  with  Field  Orders  No.  15,  Army  Corps, 
July  20,  11.20  (received  13  o'clock),  this  division  issued  Field 
Orders  No.  55,  July  20,  14  o'clock,  ordering  an  attack  on  the 

118 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

entire  division  front  at  15  o'clock.  The  most  serious  resistance 
encountered  by  the  Fifty -first  Infantry  Brigade  was  the  machine- 
gun  and  minenwerfer  fire  from  the  western  edge  of  Bois  de 
Borne,  Agron  and  Bois  du  Rochets,  as  well  as  an  enfilade  fire 
from  the  dominating  Hill  204  to  the  right  of  Vaux  in  the  French 
sector  on  our  right. 

The  right  of  the  Fifty-second  Infantry  Brigade  was  subjected 
to  disastrous  artillery  and  machine-gun  fire,  but  overcame  the 
machine-gun  nests  and  occupied  Hill  190.  The  advance  of 
the  left  of  this  brigade  was  retarded  by  enfilading  machine- 
gun  fire  from  the  left.  The  position  of  the  elements  of  the 
division  before  and  after  this  attack  are  shown  on  Map  D,  the 
line  held  on  the  night  of  July  20,  21  being  as  follows:  Givry 
Woods,  one-half  kilometer  north  of  Les  Brasses  Farm,  Hill 
190,  La  Gonetrie  Farm,  Hill  201,  Point  192  Vaux.  (As  shown 
by  the  map.)  Major  Lewis,  commanding,  had  to  make  the 
detour  into  the  French  sector  on  his  left  north  of  Les  Brasses 
Farm. 

Field  Orders  No.  17,  First  Army  Corps,  dated  July  20,  20 
o'clock  (received  at  21.10  o'clock),  directed  an  energetic  ad- 
vance in  column.  Orders  for  this  advance  were  issued  by  in- 
dorsement at  21.35  o'clock,  and  were  followed  by  Field  Orders 
No.  56,  these  headquarters.  These  orders  contemplated  ad- 
vancing without  reference  to  the  progress  of  neighboring 
divisions.  Open  warfare  methods  were  employed.  Field 
Orders  No.  18,  First  Army  Corps,  July  20,  23.30  o'clock,  or- 
dered the  advance  continued  at  dawn. 

July  21 

8.  At  4  o'clock,  July  21,  the  advance  was  resumed  in  accord- 
ance with  Field  Orders  No.  57,  these  headquarters,  and  the 
Chateau-Thierry-Soissons  road  was  crossed  shortly  after  noon. 
Division  headquarters  was  opened  at  Lucy-le-Bocage  at  5 
o'clock  July  21,  and  v/as  moved  to  Grand  Ru  Farm  at  15 
o'clock  the  same  day.  At  16.25  a  message  was  sent  to  brigade 
commanders  to  press  the  advance  with  \'igor.     A  telephone 

119 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

message  received  at  16.36  from  the  corps  commander,  followed 
by  a  written  memorandum  received  at  18.30,  directed  that  the 
troops  reach  the  Fere-en-Tardenois-Jaulgonne  road  by  day- 
light July  22,  and  in  further  compliance  therewith.  Field  Orders 
No.  58,  Headquarters  Twenty-SLxth  Division,  July  21,  17.25 
o'clock,  were  issued  directing  that  the  attack  be  pushed  with- 
out delay  or  cessation.  Our  troops  rushed  forward  until  our 
line  reached  the  vicinity  of  Epieds  and  Trugny  and  road  to 
Verdilly  (as  shown  on  Map  E),  where  the  enemy  had  prepared 
strong  defences. 

July  22 

9.  Field  Orders  No.  19,  First  Army  Corps,  July  21,  22.40 
o'clock,  were  received  July  22,  at  0.30  o'clock.  This  order 
at  the  time  was  not  brought  to  my  attention.  As  it  was  based 
on  army  orders,  my  chief  of  staff  thought  it  only  necessary 
to  repeat  it  to  the  brigades,  which  he  did,  as  follows :  — 

July  22,  1918,  1  o'clock. 

Chi^  of  Staff  to  Commanding  General,  Fifty-Jirst  Infantry  Brigade. 

Herewith  copy  of  Field  Orders  No.  19,  First  Army  Corps.  In  com- 
pliance therewith  your  brigade  will  take  over  the  zone  of  action  of 
Twenty-sixth  Division  at  3.30  a.m.  to-day.  Fifty-second  Brigade 
will  take  over  zone  of  action  of  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh  Divi- 
sion at  3.30  A.M.  to-day.  Make  necessary  dispositions  to  push  on 
vigorously. 

10.  This  order  was  received  at  the  Fifty-first  Infantry  Bri- 
gade headquarters  at  2  o'clock  July  22,  and  immediately  trans- 
mitted to  the  regimental  commanders,  the  102d  Infantry  being 
ordered  into  the  zone  of  action  of  the  Fifty-second  Brigade. 
The  order  did  not  reach  the  commanding  general.  Fifty-second 
Brigade,  until  5.30  o'clock.  He  had  already  (at  daylight) 
launched  an  attack  against  Epieds  and  Trugny,  the  102d  In- 
fantry participating. 

11.  As  soon  as  this  order  came  to  my  attention,  I  was  fear- 
ful that  the  order  —  delivered  in  the  dark  to  troops  fighting 

120 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 

as  they  were  in  assault  night  and  day,  and  moving  forward  at 
the  rush  with  their  objectives  in  mind  —  was  bound  to  result 
in  the  intermingUng  of  units,  and  probably  confusion.  As 
soon  as  this  matter  was  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  corps 
commander  he  gave  verbal  instructions  to  suspend  it,  which 
instructions  were  rushed  to  the  front.  But  some  units  had 
already  taken  their  new  positions.  I  quote  the  pertinent  para- 
graphs of  this  order:  — 

July  22,  1918,  1.05  o'clock. 
Chief  of  Staff  to  Commanding  General,  Fifty-second  Infantry  Brigade. 

Herewith  copy  of  Field  Orders  No.  19,  First  Army  Corps.  In  com- 
pliance therewith  your  brigade  will  take  over  zone  of  action  of  One 
Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh  Division.  Fifty-first  Infantry  Brigade  will 
take  over  that  part  of  Twenty-sixth  Division  zone  which  you  now 
cover.  Movement  will  be  completed  by  3.30  a.m.  to-day.  Push  on 
vigorously.     Map  herewith. 

July  22,  1918,  1.10  o'clock. 
Chief  of  Staff  to  Commanding  General,  Fifty-first  Field  Artillery  Brigade. 

Herewith  copy  of  Field  Orders  No.  19,  First  Army  Corps.  In  com- 
pliance therewith  following  changes  to  be  completed  by  3.30  this  date. 
Fifty-first  Infantry  Brigade  takes  over  entire  Twenty-sixth  Division 
zone  of  action.  Fifty-second  Infantry  Brigade  takes  over  zone  of 
action  of  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh  Division  Infantry  on  our 
left.     Govern  your  dispositions  accordingly. 

1.  (a)  General  Situation.  —  The  enemy  is  retreating  on  the  entire 
front  of  the  Sixth  Army.  At  6  p.m.  our  troops  had  passed  the  ChMeau- 
Thierry-Soissons  road  between  the  Ourcq  and  the  Clignon,  and  reached 
the  road  Bezu,  Epieds,  Chartreves. 

(b)  Mission  of  the  Entire  Army. — The  same  as  to-day;  that  is, 
strenuous  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  each  unit  driving  ahead  with  all  its 
power,  without  waiting  for  the  other  or  paying  attention  to  alignment, 
to  make  the  enemy's  retreat  a  rout. 

To  hasten  the  advance,  division  commanders  will  conduct  the  fight 
by  going  forward  when  they  can  exercise  control. 

(c)  Action  of  Neighboring  Corps.  —  The  Seventh  and  Thirty-eighth 
Corps  will  continue  to  advance  alongside  of  us.  They  will  protect 
our  flanks.     Every  one  will  push  straight  ahead. 

121 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

(d)  Action  of  Cavalry.  —  A  cavalrj'  division,  following  in  rear  of 
the  Seventh  Corps,  will,  at  the  proper  time,  pass  through  to  the  front 
in  the  direction  of  Clerges,  Coulonges,  Courville,  to  intercept  and 
disorganize  the  enemy's  communications. 

2.  (a)  Action  of  First  Army  Corps.  —  The  action  will  continue 
to-night  without  cessation  by  the  Twenth-sixth  and  One  Hundred 
and  Sixty -seventh  Divisions  abreast,  in  their  respective  sectors. 

On  account  of  the  narrowness  of  the  corps'  zone  of  action,  the  ad- 
vance at  daylight  will  be  made  by  the  Twenty-sixth  Division,  covering 
the  entire  corps  front.  The  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh  Division 
at  daylight  will  stand  fast  until  the  portion  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Divi- 
sion assigned  to  take  up  the  advance  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
seventh  Division  sector  has,  with  its  reserves  and  divisional  artillery, 
passed  through  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh  Division. 

When  this  has  been  accomplished,  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
seventh  Division  will  follow  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  in  the  second 
line  at  3  kilometers  distance,  taking  great  care  to  avoid  interference 
with  the  movement  of  the  rear  elements  of  the  Twenty-Sixth  Division, 
and  the  replenishment  of  ammunition  supply. 

12.  The  attack  on  Epieds-Trugny  was  pushed  with  vigor. 
In  the  attack  and  after  gaining  the  objective  the  troops  were 
subjected  to  machine-gun  fire,  not  only  from  the  region  of 
Epieds  and  Trugny,  but  also  enfihiding  fire  from  La  Goutterie 
Farm  in  the  sector  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh 
Division,  which  enfiladed  the  attacking  hnes  from  the  left 
rear.  The  101st  Machine  Gun  Battalion  (divisional),  as  well 
as  the  machine-gun  companies  assigned  to  regiments,  advanced 
with  and  gallantly  supported  the  infantry  in  the  attack.  The 
101st  Infantry  simultaneously  attempted  to  outflank  Trugny 
on  the  east,  but  succeeded  only  in  establishing  itself  in  the 
woods  south  of  Trugny.  The  troops  in  Epieds  and  Trugny  were 
subjected  to  a  heavy  concentration  of  artillery  and  machine- 
gun  fire,  and  were  withdrawn  to  permit  further  artillery  prepa- 
ration. The  attack  was  resumed  at  16  o'clock;  the  same  char- 
acter of  artillery  and  machine-gun  fire  prevented  retention  of 
the  forward  positions  gained.  At  this  time  the  division  on  our 
left  had  not  captured  La  Goutterie  Farm,  from  the  vicinity  of 

122 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

which  the  enemy  employed  machine-gun  fire  with  teUing  effect. 
During  that  day  our  artillery  vigorously  shelled  La  Goutterie 
Farm,  and  by  liaison  we  informed  the  division  on  our  left  that 
we  would  cease  at  17  o'clock,  hoping  that  that  would  make  the 
way  easier  for  its  capture.  (Map  F  illustrates  the  action  of 
July  22,  as  well  as  the  situation  at  the  close  of  the  day.) 

13.  Our  experience  in  the  rush  forward  had  shown  the  futil- 
ity, without  undue  losses,  of  attempting  a  head-on  attack  of 
Epieds  and  Trugny.  The  open  wheat  fields  gave  tao  good  a 
sweep  for  the  enemy's  machine  guns.  I,  therefore,  determined 
to  throw  in  a  wedge  on  the  road  through  the  Bois  de  Trugny, 
and  was  confirmed  in  this  decision  by  the  verbal  instructions  of 
the  corps  and  by  Field  Orders  No.  20,  First  Army  Corps,  in 
accordance  with  which  I  confirmed  my  previous  verbal  orders 
by  Field  Orders  No.  59,  Twenty-sixth  Division,  July  22,  22.30 
o'clock.  These  orders  demanded  the  penetration  of  the  enemy's 
line  by  a  regiment  in  each  division,  with  exploitations  by  the 
entire  division.  The  following  message  was  sent  to  the  Fifty- 
first  Infantry  Brigade,  and  copies  to  other  commanders  for 
their  information :  — 

Headquarters  Twenty-sixth  Division,  Expeditionary  Forces, 
July  22,  1918,  21.10  o'clock. 
Message  No.  2. 

To  Commanding  General,  Fifty-first  Infantry  Brigade. 

1.  Inclosing  four  copies  of  Field  Orders  No.  20,  c.  s..  Headquarters, 
First  Army  Corps,  for  his  information. 

2.  The  101st  Infantry  is  designated  to  carry  out  the  attack. 

3.  Orders  will  issue  later. 

By  command,  etc. 

14.  The  Fifty-second  Brigade  had  suffered  a  good  many 
casualties  as  well  as  the  102d  Infantry,  and  I  ordered  Major 
Greenway  and  his  detachment,  consisting  of  two  and  one-half 
companies  of  2d  Battalion,  101st  Engineers  (with  headcjuarters 
at  Etrepilly),  to  move  forward  and  take  the  position  previously 
occupied  by  the  104th  Infantry,  and  exploit  the  thrust  of  the 

123 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

101st  Infantry  extending  to  the  right  to  gain  liaison,  antici- 
pating that  this  thrust  would  outflank,  as  it  did,  the  resistance 
at  Trugny  and  Epieds.  Major  Greenway  encountered  some 
remaining  machine-gun  nests  southwest  of  Epieds,  and  kept 
them  actively  engaged,  struck  out  to  the  right,  in  front  of  a 
portion  of  the  102d  Infantry  on  his  right,  and  gained  contact 
with  the  101st  Infantry,  when  its  leading  elements  fell  back 
from  its  advanced  positions  in  the  Bois  de  Trugny.  He  was 
sent  orders  to  take  defensive  position  and  hold  ground  gained 
that  night. 

15.  In  the  meantime,  after  a  thorough  artillery  preparation, 
the  101st  Infantry  attack  was  launched  at  6  o'clock,  and  the 
eastern  part  of  the  Bois  de  Trugny  gained  before  noon.  (Map 
G  illustrates  this  phase,  showing  also  the  position  of  remain- 
ing troops  held  in  readiness.)  Good  reports  of  the  success  of 
this  thrust  continued  to  reach  division  headquarters  —  that 
they  had  overcome  all  resistance,  which  consisted  mainly  of 
machine-gun  fire,  gas  and  high  explosive  shells.  Therefore 
complete  plans  had  been  laid  out  for  an  additional  push  the 
next  morning  by  this  regiment,  both  northeast  and  northwest, 
and  to  move  up  available  troops  so  that  when  it  became  neces- 
sary to  leapfrog  through,  the  reserve  battalion  of  this  regi- 
ment, or  other  troops,  could  push  forward  and  force  the  pursuit. 
At  2  o'clock  that  night  report  was  received  that  the  leading 
battalion  of  the  101st  Infantry  had  been  subjected  to  a  wither- 
ing machine-gun  fire  from  the  front  and  on  both  flanks  and 
from  machine  guns  in  trees,  with  much  gas;  that  the  leading 
elements  were  forced  to  withdraw,  leaving  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  wounded  in  their  front,  which  they  hoped  to  get  out 
that  night  and  evacuate  them  to  the  right  area  in  safety.  This 
announcement  prevented  a  continuation  of  the  artillery  prep- 
aration on  the  following  morning. 

16.  At  12.30,  July  23,  Field  Orders  No.  21,  First  Army  Corps, 
were  issued  reinstating  Field  Orders  No.  19  (directing  the  as- 
sumption of  the  entire  corps  front  by  the  Twenty-sixth  Divi- 
sion) and  placing  the  111th  Infantry  (Fifty-sixth  Brigade)  at 
the  disposal  of  the  commanding  general.  Twenty-sixth  Division, 

124 


Bachrach 


Colonel  J.  L.  Bevans 


Captured  Boche  Gun,  Place  de  la  Concorde,  Paris,  France 


luti'inational  Film  Servicv,  Inc. 

Bringing  in  Broken  Rifles  after  Fight  at  Seicheprey,  Menil-la-Tour, 

France,  May  2,  1918 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

for  July  23  only,  as  division  reserve.  The  Fifty-first  Infantry 
Brigade  was  directed  by  Field  Orders  No.  60,  Twenty-sixth 
Division,  July  23,  16  o'clock,  to  take  over  the  entire  zone  of 
action  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division,  and  the  Fifty-second  In- 
fantry Brigade  was  ordered  to  assemble  preparatory  to  reliev- 
ing the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh  Division,  two  battalions 
of  the  111th  Infantry  being  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Fifty- 
second  Brigade  to  assist  in  accomplishing  this  purpose.  How- 
ever, Field  Orders  No.  22,  First  Army  Corps,  July  23,  19 
o'clock,  directed  an  attack  by  both  the  Twenty-sixth  and  One 
Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh  Division,  necessitating  the  revo- 
cation of  Field  Orders  No.  60,  Twenty-sixth  Division,  July  23, 
20  o'clock. 

17.  About  18  o'clock,  while  at  the  front  impressing  brigade 
and  regimental  commanders  with  the  necessity  of  sparing  no 
men  or  ounce  of  energy  in  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  on  the  fol- 
lowing morning,  I  received  a  telephone  message  that  G-3 
from  the  corps  was  waiting  at  my  headquarters  with  important 
orders.  I  immediately  returned  to  my  headquarters,  which  I 
reached,  as  I  recall,  at  about  18.30,  and  received  letter  No.  130 
G-3,  Headquarters  First  Army  Corps,  July  23,  stating  that  the 
Fifty-sixth  Brigade  of  the  Twenty-eighth  American  Division  was 
placed  at  my  disposal,  and  that  I  was  directed  to  utilize  this 
brigade  and  place  it  in  line  without  delay  in  order  to  comply 
with  current  orders  of  the  Sixth  Army  Commander  to  drive 
line  forward.  The  orders  further  directed  that  as  soon  as  the 
Fifty-sixth  Brigade  had  taken  over  the  line  from  the  Fifty- 
second  Brigade  of  my  division  to  proceed  promptly  to  the  reor- 
ganization of  the  Fifty-second  Brigade  with  a  view  to  utilizing 
its  battalions  or  regimental  units  as  fast  as  they  could  be 
reconstructed  to  carry  forward  continuously  the  front  line  of 
my  sector.  I  had  before  ordered  two  battalions  of  the  111th 
Infantry  of  this  brigade  to  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the 
Fifty-second  Brigade  to  assist  in  pushing  forward  his  line  and 
relieving  the  Fifty-second  Brigade.  As  soon  as  I  received  this 
order  I  summoned  all  the  brigade  commanders,  including  Brig- 
adier-General Weigel,  commanding  Fifty-sixth  Brigade,   and 

125 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

directed  him  to  relieve  the  Fifty -second  Brigade,  and  take  com- 
mand of  the  left  subsector  so  that  he  could  push  forward  in 
the  morning. 

18.  With  the  above  letter  I  received  a  letter  from  the  corps 
commander  directing  me  not  to  commit  the 'Fifty-sixth  Brigade 
or  elements  thereof  into  the  attack  until  they  had  time  to  make 
reconnoissance.  This  seemed  to  be  in  conflict,  and  I  therefore 
directed  my  chief  of  staff  to  take  the  matter  up,  and  he  reported 
to  me  between  20  and  21  o'clock  that  the  provisions  of  this 
last  letter  should  obtain. 

19.  At  22  o'clock  I  received  the  report  of  the  check  of  the 
leading  elements  of  the  101st  Infantry.  Being  forced  to  con- 
tinue the  thrust  through  the  Bois  de  Trugny  until  I  could  find 
out  whether  the  wounded  reported  in  front  of  this  element 
had  been  evacuated,  I  communicated  to  the  chief  of  staff  of 
the  corps  and  was  informed  by  him  that  the  push  forward  must 
be  made  by  the  Fifty-sixth  Brigade,  and  that  the  army  orders 
would  prevail. 

July  24. 

20.  Having  again  summoned  all  the  brigade  commanders, 
as  well  as  Brigadier-General  Weigel,  I  directed  the  latter  to 
move  forward  at  H  hour  (4.05  o'clock),  promising  him  com- 
plete artillery  preparation  in  the  left  subsector.  He  was  also 
instructed  to  send  a  battalion  of  the  112th  Infantry  to  the 
commanding  general.  Fifty-first  Brigade,  to  move  up  through 
the  Bois  de  Trugny  and  pass  through  the  leading  elements  of 
the  101st  Infantry,  and  continue  the  pursuit  in  that  subsector 
as  well  as  the  left  subsector.  This  procedure  was  confirmed  by 
Field  Orders  No.  62,  Twenty-sixth  Division,  July  23,  12.30 
o'clock. 

21.  General  Weigel  told  me  that  his  men  had  not  had  any- 
thing to  eat  for  two  days,  and  had  no  emergency  rations;  had 
been  marching  two  nights;  that  his  112th  Regiment  was  in 
corps  reserve,  and  being  unfamiliar  with  the  ground,  it  would 
be  difficult  for  him  to  do  so.  I  replied  that  he  must  overcome 
all  these  difficulties  and  must  move  out  as  ordered,  this  being 

126 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

in  accordance  with  my  orders  and  the  known  wishes  of  the 
corps  commander.  I  ordered  Major  Greenway,  who  knew  the 
ground,  to  report  to  him  so  that  the  colonel  of  his  111th  In- 
fantry would  have  the  advantage  of  Major  Greenway  as  a 
guide.  I  directed  my  chief  of  staff  to  accompany  the  battalion 
of  the  112th  Infantry  that  had  been  turned  over  to  Brigadier- 
General  Shelton  with  orders  to  explain  the  mission  and  push 
them  forward  with  all  haste.  I  furthermore  ordered  another 
of  my  trusted  staff  officers,  Major  Alfonte,  to  accompany  the 
leading  elements  of  the  111th  Regiment  on  the  left.  These 
two  oflScers,  as  well  as  Major  Greenway,  did  everything  pos- 
sible to  push  this  pursuit.  In  the  morning,  at  daylight,  Briga- 
dier-General Weigel  reported  to  me  that  in  spite  of  the  aid  of 
all  my  officers  he  had  not  been  able  to  get  his  battalions  up 
and  get  them  off  at  the  H  hour,  and  that  he  had  had  to  delay 
the  attack.  About  that  time,  through  liaison  with  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixty-seventh  Division,  I  learned  that  after  artil- 
lery preparation  and  the  advance  of  the  infantry  they  had  found 
none  of  the  enemy  on  their  front,  and  by  the  employment  of 
cavalry  patrols  they  were  moving  out  ahead  of  General  Weigel's 
left.  I  immediately  declared  off  the  divisional  artillery  prepara- 
tion and  directed  him  to  send  out  strong  patrols  and  to  rush 
and  get  in  contact  v/ith  the  enemy  by  every  means  possible  — 
to  go  out  without  any  caution  and  get  in  touch. 

22.  I  afterwards,  being  without  cavalry,  ordered  my  motor- 
ized divisional  machine  gun  battalion  to  move  out,  gave  them 
the  right  of  way,  and  by  all  expedition  to  reach  the  objective, 
the  Jaulgonne-Fere-en-Tardenois  road.  During  the  evening  the 
advanced  elements  of  the  division,  although  later  in  starting, 
were  the  first  to  reach  this  road  and  this  objective,  where  severe 
machine  gun  fighting  was  encountered.  The  other  elements 
were  abreast  those  of  the  French,  the  division  occupying  a  line 
in  the  Foret  de  Fere  (as  shown  on  Map  H). 

23.  Field  Orders  No.  23,  First  Army  Corps,  July  24,  directed 
the  relief  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  and  Fifty-sixth  Brigade 
by  the  Forty-second  Division.  Field  Orders  No.  63,  Twenty- 
sixth  Division,  July  24,  16.45  o'clock  was  issued  in  accordance 

127 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

therewith,  the  Fifty-first  and  Fifty-sixth  Infantry  Brigades 
being  directed  to  continue  the  pursuit  until  relieved.  The 
Sergy  plateau  was  designated  as  the  next  objective  by  Field 
Orders  No,  24,  First  Army  Corps,  July  24,  and  by  Field  Orders 
No.  64,  Twenty-sixth  Division,  July  24,  20.30  o'clock. 

July  25 

24.  The  night  of  July  24,  25  was  spent  in  carrying  out  the 
relief  of  elements  of  this  division  and  of  the  Fifty-sixth  Brigade, 
the  infantry  of  this  division  being  concentrated  in  the  vicinity 
of  Bois  de  Trugny  and  Chante  Merle.  The  Fifty-first  Field 
Artillery  Brigade  and  the  101st  Engineers  were  attached  to 
the  Forty-second  Division,  and  continued  in  the  operations. 

The  command  of  the  zone  of  action  passed  to  the  command- 
ing general.  Forty-second  Division,  at  19  o'clock,  July  25. 
The  reports  of  the  commanding  general,  Fifty -first  Field  Artil- 
lery Brigade,  and  the  commanding  officer,  101st  Engineers, 
will  therefore  cover  a  longer  period  than  that  contemplated 
by  this  report. 

25.  During  the  period  July  18-25,  1918,  the  following  cap- 
tures were  reported:  — 

248  prisoners. 

1  210-m.m.  howitzer. 

2  177-m.m.  minenwerfer. 
4  77-m.m.  minenwerfer. 
1  small  minenwerfer. 

1  88-m.m.  field  gun. 

2  77-m.m.  field  guns, 

9  machine  guns  (complete). 
14  machine  guns  (incomplete). 
1  pontoon  wagon  train  (for  infantry  foot  bridge). 

A  large  quantity  of  ammunition,  consisting  of  shells  of  all  calibers 
and  small-arms  ammunition. 

26.  The  records  of  the  statistical  section  corrected  to  date 
show  the  following  casualties :  — 

128 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 


Casualties,  Offensive 

commencing  July  18, 

1918. 

"6 

f 

>> 

o 

■3 

O 

.9 
J 
1^ 

Division  Headquarters, 

- 

1 

1 

- 

- 

- 

2 

101st  Machine  Gun  Battalion, 

8 

8 

26 

- 

1 

- 

43 

lOlst  Infantry 

54 

127 

111 

20 

232 

41 

585 

102d  Infantry, 

139 

415 

35 

44 

17 

308 

958 

102d  Machine  Gun  Battalion, 

13 

2 

70 

13 

- 

13 

111 

103d  Infantry 

176 

307 

290 

18 

335 

74 

1.200 

104th  Infantry 

115 

331 

151 

54 

55 

54 

760 

103d  Machine  Gun  Battalion, 

18 

3 

83 

8 

- 

10 

122 

lOlst  Field  Artillery 

19 

7 

18 

6 

10 

- 

60 

102d  Field  Artillery 

23 

19 

13 

2 

3 

1 

61 

103d  Field  Artillery 

13 

5 

42 

- 

2 

- 

62 

101st  Trench  Mortar  Battery, 

1 

- 

2 

- 

- 

- 

3 

101st  Engineers 

8 

18 

47 

2 

26 

1 

102 

101st  Field  Battalion  Signal  Corps,      . 

5 

- 

2 

2 

2 

- 

11 

101st  Ammunition  Train,      .     •  . 

2 

2 

2 

- 

- 

- 

6 

101st  Sanitary  Train 

- 

- 

3 

- 

16 

- 

19 

40th  Engineers 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1 

1 

29th  Engineers 

1 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1 

Fifty-first  Field  Artillery  Brigade, 

- 

- 

1 

- 

- 

- 

1 

Totals 

595 

1,245 

897 

169 

699 

503 

4,108 

This  does  not  include  the  evacuation  of  sick  and  exhausted 
which  I  estimated  about  1,200. 

27.  It  will  be  noted  that  this  division  not  only  gained  its 
objectives  as  ordered,  but  on  occasions  went  beyond  and  had 
to  be  restrained.  Our  losses  were  increased,  due  to  the  fact 
that  this  division,  being  on  the  pivot  and  so  early  gaining  its 
first  objectives,  was  exposed  to  disastrous  artillery  and  machine- 
gun  fire  while  awaiting  the  general  movement.  After  capturing 
Torcy,  Belleau  and  Givry,  the  left  wing  was  obliged  to  wait 


129 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 

thirty-six  hours  before  starting  out  for  their  new  objectives. 
The  division  fought  continuously,  day  and  night,  for  eight 
days.  It  made  a  total  advance  from  its  first  line  of  183^  kilo- 
meters, and  on  the  second  double  change  of  direction  on  both 
flanks  advanced  17  kilometers  in  four  days. 

28.  The  cold  facts  of  the  work  of  the  51st  Field  Artillery  are 
set  forth  in  Brigadier-General  Aultman's  report.  The  work  of 
the  artillery  was  magnificent.  Every  battery  was  ready  and 
willing  to  answer  any  call  at  any  hour  of  the  day  or  night. 
Liaison  with  the  infantry  was  the  best  liaison  that  was  exhib- 
ited during  the  attack.  There  were  times  when  the  difficulty 
of  accurately  locating  the  most  advanced  infantry  units  made 
it  impossible  to  employ  the  artillery  with  fullest  effect,  but  in 
general  the  infantry  was  able  to  tell  the  artillery  where  to  put 
its  fire  and  the  artillery  always  promptly  responded. 

The  infantry  of  this  division  was  relieved  on  July  25.  The 
artillery  was  continued  in  the  advance  and  paved  the  way, 
first  for  elements  of  the  Forty-second  Division  and  later  for 
elements  of  the  Fourth  Division,  being  finally  relieved  on  August 
4,  after  seventeen  days'  continuous  participation  in  the  attack. 
That  the  officers  and  men  of  this  brigade  have  returned  to  this 
division  in  a  cheerful,  enthusiastic  frame  of  mind  speaks  vol- 
umes for  their  discipline,  training  and  physical  condition,  and 
the  fact  that  comparatively  few  animals  were  lost  illustrates 
the  thoroughness  with  which  this  brigade  has  been  trained. 

29.  The  particular  part  the  engineers  played  in  offensive 
action  has  been  embodied  in  my  report.  In  addition  to  this, 
the  officers  and  men  of  the  101st  Engineers  were  indefatigable 
in  the  work  assigned  to  them.  They  worked  in  removing 
road  obstructions  and  repairing  roads  and  bridges,  and  made 
possible  an  uninterrupted  flow  of  communication  between  the 
advanced  troops  and  the  ammunition  and  supply  echelons. 
They  were  relieved  August  2. 

30.  The  supply  system  functioned  perfectly.  At  no  time 
was  there  lack  of  supplies  nor  any  great  difficulty  in  getting  the 
supplies  to  the  troops.  The  distributing  points  were  advanced 
as  the  troops   advanced,   and  supply   trucks   delivered  their 

130 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 

rations  to  advanced  positions,  often  under  shell  fire.  The  rail- 
head remained  at  Nanteuil-sur-Marne.  The  initial  distribut- 
ing points  were  Montreuil-aux-Lions  and  Villiers-sur-Marne, 
and  later  Vaux  and  Bouresches,  although  it  was  frequently 
necessary  to  distribute  supplies  at  more  advanced  positions, 
particularly  to  elements  of  the  Fifty-sixth  Brigade,  which  had 
been  obliged  to  cut  loose  from  their  trains  in  order  to  enter  the 
zone  of  action  on  the  prescribed  day.  The  division  continued 
to  supply  its  artillery  and  engineers  until  they  were  relieved; 
some  of  them  were  50  kilometers  away. 

31.  The  assistant  chief  of  staff,  G-1,  suggests  that  during 
an  advance  it  would  be  preferable  to  issue  canned  meats, 
canned  vegetables,  canned  beans,  canned  potatoes,  hard  bread, 
pulverized  coffee,  milk,  sugar,  salt,  pepper,  canned  fruits,  pre- 
serves and  jam  in  lieu  of  the  regulation  daily  issue  of  fresh  and 
frozen  beef,  fresh  vegetables,  extracts  and  such  articles  as  were 
received  during  the  advance.    I  indorse  this  suggestion. 

32.  The  officers  and  enlisted  personnel  of  the  sanitary  units 
exhibited  tireless  energy  in  evacuating  and  caring  for  the 
wounded.  The  commanding  officer  of  the  101st  Sanitary 
Train  reports  the  evacuation  of  4,065  cases,  the  largest  number 
in  any  one  day  being  1,227  on  July  23.  These  figures  include 
some  cases  of  other  divisions  evacuated  over  our  line,  especially 
during  the  latter  portion  of  the  period.  The  102d  Field  Hospital 
established  a  sifting  station  at  Bezu-le-Guery,  receiving  wounded 
from  the  ambulance  companies,  and,  after  giving  such  surgical 
treatment  as  was  immediately  necessary,  evacuating  them  as 
follows :  — 

(a)  Seriously  wounded  to  103d  Field  Hospital  at  La  Ferte- 
sous-Jouarre. 

(6)  Wounded  to  Evacuation  Hospital  No.  7  at  Montan- 
glaust. 

(c)  All  others  to  101-104  Field  Hospital  at  Luzancy,  where 
patients  expected  to  return  to  duty  within  five  days  were  re- 
tained and  others  evacuated  to  Hospital  No.  7. 

At  times  the  stream  of  wounded  was  so  heavy  that  the 
regular  facilities  for  transportation  were  reinforced  by  10  trucks 

131 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

from  the  101st  Supply  Train,  11  trucks  and  12  ambulances 
from  the  116th  Sanitary  Train,  as  well  as  the  trucks  of  the 
101st  Sanitary  Train,  making  the  total  number  of  vehicles 
about  140. 

33.  Telephone  and  radio  connection  was  maintained  by 
division  headquarters  with  First  Army  Corps  and  with  sub- 
ordinate commanders.  The  personnel  of  the  signal  battalion 
in  the  advanced  areas  was  continually  working  under  severe 
fire  and  exhibited  exceptional  bravery,  at  times  being  compelled 
to  leave  their  work  to  join  the  infantry  in  the  actual  defence  of 
positions. 

Aeroplane  liaison  did  not  work  out  as  satisfactorily  as  might 
be  desired.  Infantry  units  were  reluctant  to  show  their  panels 
because  of  the  frequent  presence  of  enemy  planes,  but  the  avia- 
tion service  gave  us,  as  far  as  their  material  permitted,  valuable 
information  of  the  movements  of  bodies  of  troops. 

Combat  liaison  with  adjacent  divisions  was  maintained  with 
practically  no  interruption.  Forward  communication  was  con- 
tinually maintained  by  telephone,  couriers  and  runners,  and 
supplies  and  ammunition  were  delivered  every  day  to  battalions. 

34.  Machine-gun  Nests.  —  The  greatest  difficulty  the  divi- 
sion encountered  in  meeting  the  demands  and  purposes  of  the 
higher  command  to  rush  forward  to  pursue,  irrespective  of 
flanks  or  any  other  elements,  was  the  cleverly  and  ingeniously 
placed  machine-gun  nests.  Torcy-Belleau-Givry  were  the 
main  German  line  of  defence.  Again,  Bouresches  Wood,  Borne 
Agron  and  Rochet  line  were  cleverly  arranged  machine-gun 
and  artillery  positions.  But  the  toughest  nut  to  crack  was  the 
concentrated  defence  on  the  crest  of  hills  on  the  far  side  of 
Epieds  and  Trugny,  and  finally  the  use  of  machine  guns  in 
the  Foret  de  Fere  and  vicinity. 

35.  These  machine  guns  were  located  generally  in  the  edge 
of  woods,  in  fox-holes,  the  depth  of  a  man's  shoulder,  and  oc- 
casionally double-gun  holes.  Out  in  front,  distributed  in  the 
wheat  fields,  and  excellently  camouflaged,  were  any  number 
of  other  of  these  holes,  mutually  supporting,  giving  a  field  of 
fire  from  3,000  yards  up  to  the  gun.     These  guns  not  only 

132 


XJjMj^jA^g^j^^^^ , 

i       '  ^~!PI^9Hllii 

t 

k.i       1 

K         1 

1 

Colonel  Ernest  L.  Isbell 


Service,  Inc. 


Hidden  Kitchen  of  101st  Infantry,  Bois  de  la  Voisogne,  France, 

May  31,  1918 


International  Film  Service,  Inc. 

Officers  decorated  with  Croix  de   Guerre  for  Conspicuous  Bravery, 
Mononcourt,  France,  June  11,  1918 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

commanded  the  terrain  of  the  reverse  slope,  but  also  the  direct 
slope  to  the  gun. 

36.  An  inspection  of  this  groimd  raises  the  question:  How 
could  they  have  been  taken? 

37.  I  believe  the  tactics  and  methods  to  be  employed  wherever 
time  will  allow  is  to  feel  out  these  gun  nests  by  specially  devel- 
oped scouts  with  qualifications  corresponding  to  those  successful 
in  our  Indian  warfare,  to  discover  the  positions  and  avoid  the 
losses  that  a  reconnaissance  in  force  would  suffer. 

38.  The  155's  are  the  best  agency  when  this  information  is 
gained.  We  have  just  received  our  Newton-Stokes  mortars. 
The  trench  mortar  battery  therefore  becomes  another  excellent 
agency  to  destroy  and  neutralize  these  nests.  In  addition,  the 
woods  may  be  combed  from  3,000  yards  with  a  hail  of  our  own 
machine-gun  bullets,  as  well  as  the  115's,  with  time  fuses,  to 
wipe  out  those  nests  cleverly  located  in  trees,  which  is  one  of 
the  new  elements  of  the  German  defence. 

39.  It  goes  without  saying  that  wherever  possible  machine 
guns  must  be  flanked  out  by  infiltration  from  both  sides,  and 
this  method  was  constantly  used  by  battalion  and  regimental 
commanders  whose  function  it  becomes  in  a  rush  of  this  kind. 

40.  Automatic  Rifles.  —  The  casualties  of  the  Chauchat  men 
were  abnormal.  A  great  majority  of  the  teams  of  the  102d 
Infantry  were  casualties.  As  soon  as  a  man  dropped  another 
man  would  pick  up  the  Chauchat  and  he  would  become  a 
casualty.  Plainly,  the  cause  to  my  mind  is  the  exposure, 
greater  than  with  the  rifle,  of  the  man  necessary  to  the  effective 
use  of  this  arm,  and  I  fancy  furthermore  that  the  glistening 
barrel  which  results  from  the  extra  care  necessary  with  this 
arm,  keeping  it  well  oiled,  discloses  it  to  the  German  sniper 
who  has  been  instructed  that  it  must  be  destroyed. 

41.  I  understand  that  this  exposure  is  eliminated  in  the 
Browning  automatic  rifle,  which  has  many  other  points  of 
superiority  over  the  Chauchat.  From  reports  it  would  appear 
to  me  that  the  supply  ought  to  be  great  enough  to  arm  this 
division  immediately  with  these  rifles.  I  cannot  too  strongly 
urge  that  course  in  the  reconstitution  of  this  division,  and  I 

133 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

recommend  a  slightly  greater  proportion  of  Brownings  than  the 
present  Chauchat  equipment.  The  Chauchat,  since  this 
battle,  is  an  unpopular  arm  in  this  division,  due  to  the  excessive 
casualties.    Men  used  to  volunteer  for  it. 

42.  Artillery.  —  The  function  of  the  division  artillery  in 
such  an  advance  is  solely  to  protect  and  permit  the  advance  of 
the  infantry.  The  artillery  did  its  work  excellently.  They  had 
too  few  gas  shells.  The  proportion  should  be  much  greater 
hereafter,  even  in  open  warfare.  They  can  be  effectively  used 
against  machine-gun  nests  where  the  proper  interval  elapses 
between  the  preparation  and  the  assault.  I  also  recommend  a 
much  greater  allowance  of  gas  shells  for  all  calibers  for  counter 
battery  work  of  the  corps  artillery  as  one  of  the  best  agents  in 
the  neutralization  of  opposing  batteries. 

43.  Tanks.  —  Several  occasions  in  this  eight-day  advance 
showed  the  practical  use  of  tanks.  Three  or  four  times  it  came 
forcibly  upon  us  that  we  could  get  through  with  tanks  easily 
and  save  lives. 

I  have  already  made  a  special  report  recommending  that 
where  the  terrain  permitted  their  use,  tanks  should  be  provided 
in  the  proportion  to  each  infantry  battalion  of  three  mitrail- 
leuses tanks  and  one  field-gun  tank. 

General  Passaga,  my  former  French  corps  commander,  wrote 
a  memorandum  on  this  subject,  which  I  submitted  to  General 
Headquarters.  I  am  more  convinced  than  ever  that  his  recom- 
mendations should  be  indorsed;  that  with  our  155  artillery, 
the  use  of  the  tanks  that  I  suggest  is  the  solution  for  over- 
coming the  German  machine-gun  tactics  if  we  ever  expect  a 
clean  march  through. 

44.  There  is  need  of  greater  air  service  than  we  had  in  this 
engagement,  although  I  cast  no  reflections  upon  that  air  serv- 
ice. Its  personnel  was  excellent,  and  where  the  material  held 
out  they  did  everything  that  could  be  expected,  considering 
their  numbers.  We  suffered  much  from  artillery  concentra- 
tions in  conjunction  with  the  opposition  of  machine-gun  nests. 

45.  Information.  —  The  most  important  thing  of  all  to  my 
mind  that  confronts  a  division  commander  is  the  answer  to 

134 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

the  question:  "Where  is  my  infantry?"  "The  French  and  Eng- 
lish commanders  tell  me  it  is  the  most  difficult  problem  of  all. 
This  information  is  essential  for  divisional  artillery  to  perform 
its  role.  Brigade  and  regimental  commanders  are  reluctant  to 
give  it  its  full  protective  employment  unless  the  infantry  line 
is  definitely  known.  We  had  a  great  casualty  list  of  runners; 
in  some  cases  five  runners  would  be  shot  down  one  after  the 
other,  and  it  would  be  next  to  impossible  to  get  through.  The 
wires  provided  in  an  organization  would  be  cut  by  ^hell  fire. 
Airplanes,  especially  in  a  wood,  could  not  discover  infantry 
panels.  Our  service  in  this  sector,  which  made  it  mandatory 
to  take  cover  from  all  airplanes,  made  it  difficult  in  the  midst 
of  a  fight,  and  hail  of  shells  and  machine-gun  bullets,  to  dis- 
tinguish between  friendly  and  hostile  airplanes,  and  the  char- 
acter of  the  terrain,  covered  with  woods,  as  I  say,  when  panels 
were  displayed,  made  it  difficult  for  the  machine  flying  even  at 
100  meters'  height  to  distinguish  them. 

46.  I  purpose  to  use  hereafter,  if  I  can  get  the  material,  two 
thin,  light-weight  wires  per  company,  with  three  or  four  spools, 
each  holding  a  kilometer  of  wire,  per  telephone.  This  will 
give  eight  wires  to  a  battalion,  the  least  number,  I  believe, 
that  will  insure  this  information  which  must  be  had.  Scien- 
tific men  tell  me  that  a  wireless  field  telephone  is  the  answer. 
But  in  the  meantime  I  recommend  the  eight  wires  per  battalion. 

47.  The  Ford  ambulances  with  which  the  divisional  machine 
gun  battalion  is  equipped,  though  insufficient  in  numbers, 
were  of  value  in  quickly  transporting  elements  of  this  bat- 
talion to  the  zone  of  action  and  in  carrying  ammunition.  This 
battalion  could  be  made  of  much  greater  tactical  value  if 
equipped  with  armored  cars.  It  could  then  be  used  to  material 
advantage  in  exploiting  a  successful  attack, 

48.  It  was  the  constant  endeavor  of  my  staff  to  issue  attack 
orders  as  soon  as  possible  after  receipt  of  corps  orders,  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  the  maximum  amount  of  time  to  subordinate 
commanders  to  study  the  local  problems  and  make  appropri- 
ate dispositions.  Often,  however,  changes  in  the  situation 
necessitated  changes  in  approved  dispositions,  and  left  insuffi- 

135 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 

cient  time  to  subordinate  commanders  for  the  deliberate  exe- 
cution of  their  missions.  The  telephone  and  verbal  warning 
anticipating  army  orders  of  which  I  was  advised  by  the  corps 
were  invaluable.  The  officers  of  my  staff,  as  well  as  the  com- 
manding officers  of  troops,  were  indefatigable  in  the  perform- 
ance of  their  duties. 

49.  Morale.  —  The  morale  of  the  division  was  beyond  all 
praise.  The  infantry  had  to  be  restrained.  The  ground  they 
gained,  casualties  suffered  and  length  of  time  of  their  effort 
speaks  for  itself.  I  submit  a  copy  of  General  Orders  No.  67, 
these  headquarters,  as  my  estimate  of  the  conduct  of  officers 
and  men. 

C.  R.  Edwards, 
Major-General,  Commanding. 

This  report  gives  an  intimate  view  of  the  manner  in 
which  modern  battles  are  conducted  from  the  various 
headquarters  of  the  high  commands.  It  also  shows  some 
of  the  difficulties  encountered,  and  the  manner  in  which 
they  were  overcome.  It  will  be  noticed  that  General 
Edwards  speaks  of  the  lack  of  airplanes,  and  also  con- 
demns the  French  "Chauchat"  or  automatic  rifle.  He 
advocated  the  use  of  the  new  Browning  gun,  but  it  is 
interesting  to  observe  that  although  the  War  Depart- 
ment claimed  to  be  turning  out  thousands  of  these  weap- 
ons daily,  the  division  was  never  outfitted  with  them. 

In  connection  with  the  number  of  missing,  reported 
by  General  Edwards,  it  may  be  observed  that  the  ma- 
jority of  these  men  later  reported  to  their  various  com- 
mands. In  the  excitement  of  battle  many  men  become 
separated  from  their  individual  units,  and  attach  them- 
selves to  others.  Then,  when  the  battle  is  over  and 
things  get  straightened  out,  they  return  to  their  own 
organizations. 


136 


CHAPTER  XV 
St.  Mihiel  Salient  Wiped  Out 

The  division  got  no  rest  at  Chatillon,  but  at  once  began 
work  on  training  problems  which  are  usually  given  to 
troops  before  they  enter  the  front  line.  The  men  worked 
ten  hours  a  day,  going  through  close  order  drill  and  open 
warfare,  putting  in  three  weeks. 

On  August  30  and  31  the  division  entrained  at  Chatil- 
lon and  proceeded  to  Bar-le-Duc  and  stations  near  by. 
Then  by  night  marches  they  moved  to  Suilly,  south  of 
Verdun.  It  was  originally  the  intention  of  the  high  com- 
mand to  put  the  Twenty-sixth  into  the  sector  around 
Suilly  and  supply  tanks.  It  is  believed  that  extensive 
operations  looking  to  the  reduction  of  Metz  were  con- 
templated. These  plans  were  changed,  however,  and 
the  Yankee  Division  was  put  into  line  between  Les 
Eparges  and  Vaux-les-Palameix. 

An  attack  was  decided  upon  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
ducing the  salient,  and  the  artillery  preparation  started  at 
1  A.M.  September  11.  The  troops  who  were  to  take  part 
were  concentrated  as  secretly  as  possible  by  night.  The 
Gennans,  however,  had  some  inkling  of  what  was  to 
take  place,  but  believed  the  attack  would  be  made  two 
or  three  days  before  the  scheduled  time.  When  it  did 
not  take  place  they  decided  that  it  had  been  postponed, 
so  that  on  September  12,  when  it  was  actually  launched, 
they  were  taken  by  surprise. 

The  26th  Artillery  was  augmented  by  other  regiments 
of  artillery,  and  a  tremendous  bombardment  was  put 
over.    At  7.30  p.m.  on  the  night  of  September  12  General 

137 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Edwards  was  alone  in  divisional  headquarters  at  Rupt- 
en-Woevre,  when  a  telephone  order  was  received  for  the 
troops  to  jump  off  that  night.  The  chief  of  staff  and 
all  the  staff  officers  being  out,  the  General  telephoned 
to  General  Shelton's  headquarters.  Lieutenant  F.  M. 
Linton  answered  the  phone  and  reported  that  the  brigade 
commander  was  at  the  front.  General  Edwards  asked 
the  young  officer  if  he  thought  he  could  deliver  a  mes- 
sage to  General  Shelton  in  a  very  short  time.  Lieutenant 
Linton  replied  that  he  was  sure  he  could.  He  was  then 
given  an  order  to  have  troops  pull  out  as  soon  as  possible 
for  Vigneulles.  Making  his  way  through  the  lines  of 
trenches  to  the  actual  front,  the  lieutenant  found  Gen- 
eral Shelton,  delivered  his  message,  and  at  9  p.m.  the 
lO^d  Infantry  was  under  way  for  Vigneulles.  This  is  con- 
sidered a  remarkable  feat,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  get- 
ting through  the  lines  during  an  action.  In  less  than  one 
and  one-half  hours  from  the  time  the  order  was  received 
at  divisional  headquarters  it  was  delivered  at  the  front, 
18  kilometers  away,  and  immediately  carried  out. 

Rupt-en-Woevre,  the  seat  of  divisional  headquarters, 
had  absolutely  no  protection.  That  night,  just  at  dusk, 
a  German  flew  over  the  town  in  a  captured  Allied  plane. 
Descending  to  within  about  100  feet,  he  opened  fire  with 
a  machine  gun  and  swept  the  streets.  Fortunately  there 
were  no  casualties. 

That  same  night  airplanes  bombed  La  Ferte,  destroy- 
ing the  railroad  station  where  four  or  five  American 
officers,  ordered  home,  were  waiting,  together  with  a 
number  of  French  poilus.  By  some  peculiar  freak  the 
poilus  were  killed  and  the  American  officers  escaped. 
They  drew  their  pistols,  and,  rushing  outside,  opened 
fire  in  a  vain  attempt  to  bring  down  the  aviators.  At 
Nanteuil,  near  Meaux,   General  Edwards,  staff  officers, 

138 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

and  every  one  else  were  driven  into  the  cellar  of  a  chateau 
one  night  by  Boche  avions.  They  found,  however,  that 
the  floors  offered  no  protection  so  went  back  upstairs. 

The  bombs  made  tremendous  holes,  two  of  which  were 
about  500  yards  from  the  chateau.  These  were  in  an 
orchard,  but  when  Captain  Hyatt  went  over  to  examine 
them,  strange  to  say  he  found  the  trees  were  uninjured. 
The  noses  of  the  bombs  were  pointed,  causing  them  to 
stick  into  the  ground,  and  the  force  of  the  explosion  was 
downward. 

At  Couvrelles  the  Boches  flew  over  every  night  on  their 
way  to  and  from  Paris,  and  seemed  to  be  about  to  fly 
into  the  windows  of  the  billets. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  sights  I  ever  saw  [said  Captain 
Hyatt],  was  after  we  took  the  St.  Mihiel  salient.  The  British 
planes  were  bombing  over  Metz,  and  were  focussed  in  German 
searchlights.  Way  up  in  the  air  one  could  discern  a  tiny  twinkle, 
then  two  long  fingers  of  light  would  go  reaching  up  and  up,  until 
one  would  locate  the  airplane.  Then  the  other  would  be  thrown 
on  it  in  such  a  way  that  they  held  it  like  a  pair  of  shears.  Im- 
mediately shells  would  begin  bursting  around  the  plane,  which 
either  rose  higher  and  disappeared,  or  was  brought  down  in 
flames. 

At  the  St.  Mihiel  fight  [said  Captain  Hyatt],  the  troops  on 
our  southern  side  went  over  at  5  a.m.  There  were  two  American 
corps  with  reserves,  and  they  had  tanks  and  cavalry.  On  the 
northwest  side  the  Twenty-sixth  attacked  alone  with  a  French 
division  on  either  flank.  We  had  no  cavalry  and  no  tanks. 
We  did  not  attack  until  8  a.m.,  so  that  the  Germans  were 
warned  and  ready  from  the  earlier  attack.  However,  when 
we  went  over  we  did  it  so  quickly  that  the  Boche  was  taken 
by  surprise.  During  this  scrap  a  battalion  of  the  103d  cap- 
tured a  battalion  of  Germans.  The  German  major  was  a 
count,  while  Major  Shumway,  commanding  the  Yankees,  was 
only  twenty-four  years  old. 

139 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

We  got  our  objectives  on  time,  after  heavy  fighting  over  the 
most  terrible  terrain.  This  was  filled  with  concrete  pill  boxes 
and  machine-gun  nests,  and  the  woods  were  full  of  barbed 
wire.  There  were  scores  of  ravines  running  perpendicular  to 
our  attack,  so  that  it  was  necessary  for  the  men  to  fight  over 
each  one.  The  ground  was  covered  with  bushes  about  5  or 
6  feet  tall,  with  a  few  trees,  and  barbed  wire  interwoven.  This 
sector  had  been  held  by  the  Boche  since  September,  1914,  and 
naturally  was  as  well  fortified  as  they  could  make  it. 

I  don't  know  yet  how  the  men  got  through  this  country 
in  the  time  they  did,  and  with  only  55  killed.  I  am  willing 
to  wager  that  a  man  could  not  go  there  now,  and  with  the  same 
obstacles,  less  the  enemy  fire,  cross  that  ground  as  rapidly  as 
our  men  did  that  day. 

After  the  first  day's  objectives  had  been  gained  we  were 
supposed  to  go  to  Thillot  on  the  heights  of  the  Meuse.  The 
telephone  message  received  at  7.30  p.m.,  however,  changed 
the  orders  and  directed  us  to  proceed  southeast  to  Vigneulles 
and  make  contact  with  troops  from  the  south.  General  Cam- 
eron, who  gave  the  order,  in  doing  so  said  to  General  Edwards: 
"Go  to  it,  old  boy;  its  a  race  between  you  and  the  First  Divi- 
sion." The  Twenty-sixth  had  been  ordered  to  reach  there  by 
daylight  if  possible,  but  the  town  was  captured  at  2  a.m.  Patrols 
were  immediately  put  out  and  they  established  contact  with 
the  First  Division  at  Creue.  The  First  Division  did  not  arrive 
until  10  A.M. 

It  was  in  this  battle  that  Captain  Joseph  McConnell  was 
killed. 

Captain  McConnell  was  leading  his  men  over  the  Veau-St. 
Remy  road  on  the  morning  of  September  13,  in  an  attack  on 
the  German  positions,  when  he  was  hit  by  a  shell  fragment. 
When  the  shell  struck,  McConnell  ordered  his  men  to  dive  for 
cover,  but  did  not  have  time  to  get  into  it  himself. 

At  this  time  Major  Parker  of  the  103d  Field  Artillery  was 
also  killed,  the  only  man  to  meet  death  in  that  regiment  on 
that  day. 

At   Vigneulles   American   aviators   were   bombing,    and   on 

140 


Colonel  Beaumont  B.  Buck 


International  Film  Service,  Inc. 

Second   Lieutenant   Daniel  Willard,  102d  Field  Artillery,  being  deco- 
rated with  the  Croix  de  Guerre  for  Conspicuous  Bravery,  France 


International  Film  Service,  Inc. 
Members  of  Battery  B,  103d  Field  Artillery,  examining  Damage  done 
by  German  Shell,  Rambucourt,  France,  June  24,  1918 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

account  of  poor  liaison  did  not  know  that  the  Twenty-sixth 
Division  had  captured  the  town.  As  a  result  thirty  New 
Englanders  were  wounded  by  bombs  dropped  by  their  own 
aviators. 

General  Edwards,  in  arranging  the  original  plan  for  the 
attack,  had  put  three  regiments  in  the  front  line,  with  one  in 
reserve.  As  a  result,  when  the  change  of  orders  came  the 
reserve  regiment  was  immediately  sent  forward. 

The  fight  lasted  twenty-seven  hours  and  was  over  by  noon 
of  September  13.  General  Edwards  and  myself  went  into  Vig- 
neulles  in  an  automobile,  about  11  a.m.  at  which  time  we  could 
see  the  Germans  retreating.  The  101st  Engineers  had  done 
their  usual  wonderful  work,  and  had  built  up  the  shell-torn 
road  so  that  it  was  perfectly  passable. 

When  General  Edwards  sent  the  order  to  General  Shelton 
to  go  ahead.  Colonel  Alfonte,  the  divisional  signal  oflScer,  was 
sent  out  to  see  that  the  order  was  executed.  By  automobile 
and  on  foot  Alfonte  caught  up  with  the  102d  after  they  had 
been  on  the  way  about  two  hours.  With  his  chauffeur  he 
joined  Colonel  Bearss  and  Captain  A.  F.  Oberlin  at  the  head 
of  the  column,  reaching  the  town  about  150  yards  in  front  of 
the  troops.  As  the  four  men  were  proceeding  down  a  side  street 
they  came  upon  a  long  German  wagon  train  rolling  down  the 
main  thoroughfare.  As  the  head  of  the  wagon  train  column 
came  up  Colonel  Alfonte  fired  his  pistol  rapidly  in  the  air. 
Captain  Oberlin  in  the  meantime  had  dashed  around  the 
block,  and  he  too  discharged  a  number  of  shots,  giving  the 
Boche  the  impression  that  the  Americans  were  present  in  force. 
They  immediately  scrambled  down  from  the  wagons  and  threw 
up  their  hands.  They  were  ordered  to  pass  by  the  officers  and 
drop  their  weapons  on  the  ground.  As  the  first  rifle  fell.  Colonel 
Bearss,  who  was  unarmed,  picked  it  up.  In  the  meantime  the 
chauffeur  had  gone  back  and  hurried  up  the  troops,  who  took 
charge  of  the  prisoners. 

Then  Colonel  Alfonte  started  a  personal  tour  of  inspection 
of  what  buildings  were  left  standing.  Opening  a  barn  door  he 
came  upon  an  entire  German  machine-gun  crew,  asleep  with 

141 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

their  guns,  and  waking  them  up  he  took  them  prisoner,  single 
handed. 

The  Germans  had  a  cage  in  the  town  in  which  they  had  been 
wont  to  display  captured  Americans.  This  was  immediately 
filled  with  Germans,  who  seemed  to  resent  turning  the  tables. 

In  the  wagon  train  the  Americans  found  70  French  boys, 
about  the  age  of  fifteen,  who  were  being  carried  into  captivity. 
Great  was  the  rejoicing  of  the  youngsters  when  they  were  freed 
by  "I'Americains."  These  boys  had  been  torn  from  their 
homes  in  St.  Mihiel.  In  this  train  were  also  found  quantities 
of  ammunition  and  plenty  of  good  food,  with  the  exception 
of  bread,  which  was  very  poor;  and  a  lot  of  stationery  which 
was  captured  in  a  near-by  town.  As  we  were  short  of  sta- 
tionery at  the  time  it  came  in  very  handy. 

After  the  St.  Mihiel  fight.  General  Edwards  and  Colonel 
James  L.  Howard,  the  divisional  machine  gun  oflScer,  rode  up 
and  down  in  front  of  the  front  lines  in  an  automobile,  preparing 
for  the  defence  of  the  heights.  The  Boche  had  not  consolidated 
his  position  at  that  time,  so  the  two  officers  were  unmolested. 
During  this  time  Captain  "Nat"  Simpkins,  General  Edwards' 
personal  aide,  was  in  a  perpetual  fidget,  fearing  that  the  Gen- 
eral would  be  wounded  or  killed. 

Colonel  Alfonte  was  a  remarkable  character.  Reserved  and 
quiet,  he  was  always  anxious  to  get  into  action,  and  continually 
begged  the  General  to  allow  him  to  go  over  the  top.  In  the 
raid  of  Major  Hickey  of  the  101st  Infantry,  Colonel  Alfonte 
got  permission  to  go  along.  His  idea  was  to  tap  the  German 
telephone  system  and  listen  in  on  their  conversations.  He 
went  over  with  the  raiding  party,  carrying  telephone  lines  with 
him,  and  kept  in  constant  communication  with  divisional  head- 
quarters. The  place  was  so  shot  up,  however,  that  the  German 
telephone  system  was  out  of  commission,  so  Colonel  Alfonte 
only  got  gassed  for  his  pains. 

During  the  battle  of  Chateau-Thierry  Colonel  Howard, 
Colonel  Duncan  K.  Major,  the  new  chief  of  staff,  and  several 
other  staff  officers  were  at  the  front,  when  a  shell  landed  near 
thejcn.     The  officers  dived  for  a  shell  hole,  but  Howard,  who 

142 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 

was  the  last  one  in,  was  struck  in  the  back  by  a  splinter.  He 
was  then  forced  to  walk  2  miles  before  he  could  get  an  auto- 
mobile to  take  him  to  the  hospital. 

In  the  St.  Mihiel  fight  a  German  officer  brought  up  a  train 
of  empty  trucks  on  the  Tranchee-de-Calonne  and  drove  right 
into  our  lines.  Before  he  realized  his  mistake  he,  his  men  and 
the  trucks  were  captured.  There  were  eleven  trucks,  auto- 
mobile ambulances  and  70  horses  with  wagons.  The  troops 
needed  the  horses  badly,  and  as  everything  reported  captured 
had  to  be  turned  in,  they  failed  to  report  the  animals. 

At  Vigneulles  we  captured  railway  cars  loaded  with  machine- 
gun  ammunition.  We  also  got  butter,  sugar,  meat  and  bread, 
together  with  moving-picture  machines  and  a  very  poor  quality 
of  tobacco,  with  2,600  men.  We  furthermore  secured  quantities 
of  beer. 

We  sent  150  men  to  the  rear  in  charge  of  two  guards  and 
put  up  a  sign  which  read:  "This  way  to  the  prison  pen,"  so 
the  Germans  would  be  able  to  find  it. 


143 


CHAPTER  XVI 
Flank  of  Twenty-sixth  Uncovered 

At  the  beginning  of  the  St.  Mihiel  fight  the  direction  of 
the  American  attack  was  southeast,  the  left  half  of  the 
front  through  open  fields,  the  right  half  through  bushy 
woods.  The  French  on  the  left  of  the  Twenty-sixth  ran 
into  stiff  opposition  and  did  not  really  get  started  at  all. 
The  left  flank  of  the  New  Englanders  was  therefore  un- 
covered, but  they  kept  going.  There  was  very  little 
German  artillery  fire,  the  majority  of  the  Boche  guns 
having  been  withdrawn  to  prevent  capture.  They  had 
left  a  number  of  machine  guns,  however,  which  delayed 
somewhat  the  advance  of  the  101st  Infantry.  By  enfilade 
fire  the  101st  drove  out  the  Germans,  capturing  one  lieu- 
tenant and  his  whole  platoon.  The  right  of  the  line  then 
ran  into  machine-gun  nests  in  the  Remy  Wood,  but 
cleaned  them  out. 

The  Yankees  crossed  the  Grande  Tranchee-de-Calonne, 
the  main  artery  for  Gemian  supplies,  and  reached  their 
objectives.  Then  it  was  that  the  telephone  change  of 
orders  came,  and  the  102d  passed  through  the  line  of 
the  101st  and  took  up  the  advance  to  Vigneulles. 

Many  Germans  were  taken  prisoner,  the  enemy  seeming 
only  too  anxious  to  "Kamerad"  whenever  Americans 
came  upon  them.  Sergeant  "Larry"  Conry  of  the  101st 
brought  the  first  prisoners  in  to  divisional  headquarters. 
He  was  in  a  party  that  got  lost  going  through  No  Man's 
Land,  when  they  came  upon  three  Germans,  one  of 
whom  spoke  English.  Conry  told  him  to  lead  the  way 
to  the  American  lines  and  have  no  funny  business  about 

144 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

it.  The  prisoner  replied  that  indeed  he  would  make  no 
trouble,  and  that  he  would  advise  every  German  they 
met  to  surrender.  The  result  was  that  Conry  eventually 
arrived  at  headquarters  with  37  prisoners. 

On  the  night  of  July  14,  at  midnight,  the  Gennans  put 
over  a  barrage  of  high  explosives  and  gas  which  lasted 
for  four  hours  and  a  half.  The  101st  Infantry  was  holding 
the  line  at  this  spot,  which  included  Vaux,  the  farthest 
forward  of  any  town  in  the  line.  Owing  to  the  difficult 
terrain,  consisting  of  alternate  woods  and  wheat  fields, 
both  sides  had  night  and  day  positions. 

On  the  morning  of  the  15th  the  platoons  which  had 
been  holding  the  front  line  withdrew  to  their  day  posi- 
tions. A  short  time  later  bodies  of  men  were  seen  coming 
down  the  hill  and  into  the  edge  of  the  town.  It  was  be- 
lieved that  these  were  Americans  going  into  day  positions. 
The  oncoming  troops  established  a  machine-gun  strong- 
hold in  the  old  railroad  station  at  Vaux,  and  occupied  a 
row  of  shell  holes  which  comprised  the  only  front  line  at 
that  place. 

Then  it  was  that  Lieutenant  Frank  E.  Bolin  discovered 
that  the  men  were  Germans,  and  this  information  was 
sent  back  to  Colonel  Logan.  The  regimental  commander 
turned  to  Captain  Thomas  F.  Foley,  who  had  brought  the 
message,  and  said:  "You've  got  to  drive  out  those  dogs 
or  we  will  be  the  laughing  stock  of  the  army." 

Captain  Foley  went  back  and  communicated  by  tele- 
phone with  the  lieutenants  commanding  the  front  posi- 
tions, who  were  "Jimmy"  Rose  and  E.  J.  Price. 

Lieutenant  Price  went  forward,  and  after  securing  a 
flanking  fire  on  the  enemy,  started  a  counter  attack.  This 
was  organized  in  groups  of  two  or  three  men.  In  one  of 
these  groups  was  Douglas  Ross  of  Hingham  and  Arthur 
G.  Irwin  of  Hull.    Coming  upon  a  machine  gun  at  a  corner, 

145 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

with  two  men  operating  it,  Ross  sent  Irwin  back  for 
bombs.  When  Irwin  returned  he  found  Ross  in  charge 
of  the  machine  gun  and  the  two  Germans  dead  beside  it. 
While  waiting  for  Irwin,  Ross  shot  one  of  the  gunners. 
The  other  stooped  over  his  comrade,  and  straightened  up 
in  time  to  see  the  young  American  charging  at  him.  The 
unwounded  Boche  turned  and  fled,  whereupon  Ross 
shot  him  too. 

Ross  was  also  in  a  group  that  stormed  the  railroad  sta- 
tion, of  which  there  was  nothing  left  but  four  walls.  They 
ran  up  on  two  sides,  tossing  grenades  over  the  walls  and 
bombing  out  the  German  machine  gunners.  As  they 
ran  out  Alfred  Hall  of  Hingham,  armed  with  an  auto- 
matic rifle,  picked  them  off  from  a  strategic  post  which 
he  had  taken  on  the  railroad  line.  There  was  no  time 
to  take  prisoners. 

Lieutenant  Price  extended  his  line  to  the  left  when  the 
front-line  shell  holes  were  reached.  Corporal  Christopher 
Sullivan  with  Privates  Reginald  Bates  and  James  Cres- 
well  were  sent  to  the  left  of  a  shell  hole,  and  Arthur  Irwin 
and  Thomas  Kraus  were  sent  to  the  right.  There  were 
several  of  the  enemy  in  the  crater,  and  Private  Reginald 
Beale  was  ordered  to  keep  them  down  with  an  automatic 
rifle.  The  party  worked  up  on  the  shell  hole,  with 
Corporal  Christopher  Sullivan  tossing  in  bombs.  At 
length  they  heard  a  cry  of  "Kamerad!"  and,  advancing, 
discovered  ten  frightened  Germans  with  their  hands  in 
the  air. 

Throughout  this  time  various  small  engagements  were 
taking  place,  little  groups  of  Americans  rushing  the 
enemy,  and  either  taking  him  prisoner,  or  putting  him 
out  of  action.  A  hail  of  German  shells  was  falling  con- 
tinuously, and  it  seemed  a  miracle  that  there  were  so  few 
casualties. 

146 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Another  party  of  Germans  was  discovered  in  a  crater 
on  the  right,  and  when  Yankees  advanced  on  them  in 
skirmish  formation  the  Boches  dove  into  httle  dugouts 
in  the  bank  along  the  road.  Lieutenant  Frank  E.  Bolin 
noticed  sniping,  traced  it  to  the  bank,  and  led  his  men 
up.  One  of  them  who  spoke  German  hailed  the  dugout 
and  advised  the  Boches  to  come  out  and  surrender.  They 
promptly  took  him  at  his  word  and  emerged.  As  they 
did  so  two  Americans  who  had  been  lying  in  aiiear-by 
shell  hole  for  some  time,  afraid  to  move,  stepped  out  and 
took  charge  of  the  prisoners,  who  were  eight  in  number. 

Company  A,  which  was  some  distance  back  of  the  line, 
sent  up  a  party  of  volunteer  stretcher  bearers.  These 
men,  who  had  begged  for  a  chance  to  get  into  the  excite- 
ment, were  Sergeant  W.  G.  Weir,  Musician  David  Henry, 
and  Privates  John  Mead,  Garret  Piggot,  Roderick 
McLeod,  Chester  Griffin,  Frank  Manning  and  John 
Mitchell.  The  ground  was  so  rough  and  so  thoroughly 
covered  by  the  enemy  fire  that  it  was  some  time  before 
burial  parties  could  go  out  and  bury  the  German  dead. 
It  was  here  that  the  101st  Engineers  had  volunteered 
to  bury  dead  marines  and  Germans  after  the  Twenty- 
sixth  took  over  the  sector;  and  it  was  also  at  this  place 
that  Floyd  Gibbons,  the  Chicago  war  correspondent,  was 
wounded  and  lost  an  eye. 

The  New  Englanders  were  highly  elated  at  their  suc- 
cess, and  for  hours  visited  back  and  forth  among  the 
shell  holes  after  the  enemy  had  been  driven  off.  The 
prisoners  said  they  had  been  ordered  to  hold  the  rail- 
road bridge,  and  that  a  line  regiment  was  expected  to 
follow  up  their  attack  and  consolidate  the  position.  They 
said  that  four  companies  had  been  engaged  in  the  attack, 
two  of  them  in  the  center  and  two  on  the  flanks  in  sup- 
port.   They  were  from  a  regiment  in  the  rear. 

147 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

The  part  played  by  Major  jMiirpliy  of  the  Machine 
Gun  Battahon  in  the  capture  of  Vigneulles  was  of  such  a 
character  that  General  Shelton,  commanding  the  brigade, 
felt  called  upon  to  express  his  appreciation  in  a  personal 
letter.  This  action  is  most  unusual  in  military  circles, 
and  testifies  to  the  importance  of  Major  Murphy's  ac- 
complishments :  — 

Headquarters  Fifty-first  Infantry  Brigade, 
Twenty-sixth  Division,  American  Expeditionary  Forces, 
September  15,  1918. 

Dear  Major  Murphy  :  —  The  march  of  the  leading  ele- 
ments of  this  brigade,  consisting  of  the  102d  Infantry  and  the 
102d  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  on  the  night  of  September  12, 
13,  1918,  from  our  position  at  the  close  of  the  first  day  in  the 
attack  on  the  St.  Mihiel  salient,  for  more  than  9  kilometers 
along  the  Grande  Tranchee  de  Calonne  to  Hattonchatel  and 
Vigneulles,  was  of  such  unique  and  important  character,  and 
was  performed  in  such  efficient  and  spirited  manner,  that  I 
desire  to  place  on  record  my  personal  appreciation  of  this  ac- 
complishment. 

Our  orders  required  the  brigade  to  pursue  the  retreating 
enemy  and  to  reach  Vigneulles  by  daylight  on  the  morning  of 
the  13th  and  there  gain  contact  with  our  forces  advancing 
from  the  south  and  thereby  prevent  the  escape  to  the  north 
of  any  bodies  of  the  enemy  still  in  the  salient.  To  have  at- 
tempted to  push  forward  a  line  covering  our  whole  sector 
would  have  meant,  in  view  of  the  woods  and  difficulty  of  the 
terrain,  to  fail  in  the  accomplishment  of  our  mission.  The 
only  alternative  was  to  push  boldly  forward  on  the  only  acces- 
sible road  through  unknown  hostile  country,  losing  for  the 
time  being  liaison  with  the  elements  of  our  forces  on  our  right 
and  left,  and  exposing  the  advance  elements  of  this  brigade  to 
the  possibility  of  being  cut  off  and  surrounded  by  the  enemy. 
This  alternative  was  chosen,  and  the  lO^d  Infantry  and  your 
Machine  Gun  Battalion  were  selected  to  lead  the  advance. 

The  results  are  knov/n  to  you.     You  took  up  the  march 

148 


Arthur  S.  Adama 


Colonel  John  F.  J.  Herbert 


Watering  Horse  Section,  101st  Ammunition  Train,  France 


Underwood  &  Underwood,  New  York 

Group  of  Soldiers  and  Officers  of  Twenty-sixth  Division  who  were 
Decorated  for  Conspicuous  Bravery  at  the  Front,  La  Ferte,  France, 
July  12,  1918 


THE   YANKEE  DIVISION 

about  21  o'clock  on  the  night  of  the  12th.  Before  2  o'clock 
the  follo\\nng  morning  the  leading  elements  of  the  column 
were  in  Vigneulles.  Hattonchatel  and  Vigneulles  were  com- 
pletely in  our  possession  by  3  o'clock.  Soon  afterwards  the 
mission  of  the  brigade  had  been  completely  accomplished.  The 
roads  leading  from  the  southwest  had  been  blocked.  The  sur- 
rounding towns  had  been  garrisoned,  our  patrols  seeking  contact 
with  our  forces  from  the  south  were  in  the  plain  below  the 
heights,  and  later  this  contact  was  established.  Many  pris- 
oners and  a  large  supply  of  stores  fell  into  our  hands. ~ 

I  congratulate  you  and  your  battalion  upon  this  success  and 
upon  the  bravery  and  fine  spirit  manifest  throughout  its 
accomplishment. 

Very  sincerely  j^ours, 

George  H.  Shelton, 
Brigadier-General,  U.  S.  A.,  Commanding. 

During  the  battle  of  St.  Mihiel,  the  little  town  of 
Rupt-en-Woevre  was  the  advance  post  of  command  of 
the  Twenty-sixth  Division.  After  the  Yankees  broke 
through  Les  Eparges,  driving  back  the  Germans,  General 
Edwards  received  a  letter  from  the  old  cure,  who  had 
remained  at  his  post  while  the  enemy  held  the  country 
for  four  years.  This  letter,  voicing  the  heartfelt  thanks 
of  a  people  released  from  bondage,  was  made  public  in 
General  Orders,  and  was  as  follows :  — 

RupT-EN-WoEVRE,  September  13,  1918. 

Sir:  —  Your  gallant  American  Division  has  just  set  us  free. 

Since  September,  1914,  the  barbarians  ha.ve  held  the  heights 
of  the  Meuse;  have  foully  murdered  three  hostages  from 
Mouilly;  have  shelled  Rupt;  and  on  July  23,  1915,  forced  its 
inhabitants  to  scatter  to  the  four  corners  of  France. 

I,  who  remain  at  my  little  listening  post  upon  the  advice 
of  my  Bishop,  feel  certain.  Sir,  that  I  do  but  speak  for  Mon- 
seigneur  Ginisty,  Lord  Bishop  of  Verdun,  my  parishioners  of 

149 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Rupt,  Mouilly  and  Genicourt,  and  the  people  of  this  vicinity, 
in  conveying  to  you  and  your  associates  the  heartfelt  and  un- 
forgettable gratitude  of  all. 

Several  of  your  comrades  lie  at  rest  in  our  truly  Christian 
and  French  soil. 

Their  ashes  shall  be  cared  for  as  if  they  were  our  own.  We 
shall  cover  their  graves  with  flowers,  and  shall  kneel  by  them 
as  their  own  families  would  do,  with  a  prayer  to  God  to  reward 
with  eternal  glory  these  heroes  fallen  on  the  field  of  honor, 
and  to  bless  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  and  generous  America. 

Be  pleased.  Sir,  to  accept  the  expression  of  my  profound 
respect. 

A.  Leclerc, 
Cur6  of  Rupt-en-Woevre. 


At  the  same  time  General  Edwards  received  a  personal 
letter  from  General  Hennocque,  whose  division,  the 
2d  Cavalry  (Dismounted)  was  on  the  right  of  the  Twenty- 
sixth  during  the  battle  of  St.  Mihiel.  The  French  officer's 
father  served  as  an  officer  in  the  Union  Army  throughout 
our  civil  war,  and  married  a  Gallipolis,  Ohio,  woman. 
The  letter  read :  — 

2d  Cavalry  Division  (Dismounted)  Staff, 
P.  C,  September  16,  1918. 

My  Dear  Generax,:  —  Your  letter  of  September  14  moves 
me  greatly.  My  division  and  I  are  very  grateful  for  the  con- 
gratulations and  thanks  that  you  so  kindly  sent  to  us  all,  and 
especially  to  the  8th  Cuirassiers.  Great  is  my  joy  to  have  been 
able  to  be  of  service  to  one  of  those  fine  young  American  divi- 
sions which  have  not  hestitated  to  leave  their  homes  and  to 
cross  the  Atlantic  to  come  to  our  aid  in  the  destruction  of  the 
noxious  beast,  the  Boche. 

I  am  extremely  happy  to  have  fought  by  the  side  of  such 
a  commander  as  you,  who,  by  communicating  to  his  agreeable 
staff  and  to  his  troops  his  own  dash,  his  optimism  and  his  will 

150 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

to  conquer,  enabled  his  gallant  division  to  smash  the  resistance 
offered  to  it  on  the  12th  and  13th  of  September,  and  to  win 
a  brilliant  victory. 

In  return,  be  pleased.  General,  to  accept  my  most  sincere 
and  enthusiastic  congratulations  upon  the  occasion  of  this  fine 
success  which,  added  to  the  Chateau-Thierry  achievement,  is 
but  the  first  chapter  of  a  famous  epic. 

Repeating  the  expression  of  the  deep  friendliness  I  felt  for  you 
at  the  time  of  our  first  meeting,  and  my  hope  to  fight  again  at 
your  side,  I  beg  you.  Sir,  to  accept  this  expression  of  the  most 
kindly  feeling  from  your  devoted  "buck-eye." 

Hennocque. 


151 


CHAPTER  XVII 
102d  Infantry  Cited 

The  obliteration  of  the  St.  Mihiel  saHent  was  a  mo- 
mentous event,  and  won  plaudits  for  the  New  Englanders 
from  all  sides.  On  September  18  the  Fifth  Army  Corps 
of  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  issued  in  General 
Orders  a  citation  which  read :  — 

1.  During  the  recent  operations  for  the  reduction  of  the  St. 
Mihiel  salient,  one  regiment  in  particular  of  the  Twenty-sixth 
Division  should  be  mentioned  as  having  acquitted  itself  in  a 
most  inspiring  manner.  The  102d  Infantry  (Colonel  Hiram  L. 
Bearss,  commanding)  was  ordered  late  in  the  evening  to  march 
at  once  on  VigneuUes,  in  order  to  close  the  remaining  gap 
between  the  two  attacks. 

The  regiment  marched  5  miles  in  darkness  through  woods 
infested  with  the  enemy,  captured  280  prisoners,  and  com- 
pleted its  mission  long  before  daylight.  The  main  roads  of  the 
salient  were  cut  off,  and  no  more  of  the  enemy  could  escape. 

This  fine  example  of  courage  and  soldierly  acceptance  of 
battle  conditions  is  worthy  of  emulation.  The  corps  commander 
congratulates  them  and  looks  forward  with  confidence  to  a 
continuation  of  their  good  work. 

By  command  of  Major-General  Cameron, 

W.  B.  BURTT, 

Brigadier-General,  Chief  of  Staff. 

In  his  Order  of  the  Day,  issued  September  28,  General 
Edwards  commented  on  the  activities  of  his  division  as 
follows :  — 

152 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

1.  Again  it  becomes  my  duty  and  pleasure  to  congratulate 
this  division  on  the  important  part  it  played  in  the  battle  of  the 
St.  Mihiel  salient,  September  12-14,  1918. 

Our  task  was  to  attack  on  the  historic  and  hitherto  impreg- 
nable ground  near  Les  Eparges,  where  in  the  past  so  many 
thousands  of  French  lives  have  been  sacrificed. 

In  front  of  us  the  fortifications  were  manned  by  Germans, 
with  a  No  Man's  Land  on  difficult  slopes,  churned  and  pitted 
by  four  years  of  shelling,  and  with  a  mass  of  wire  and  other 
obstacles  from  trench  to  trench. 

The  three  infantry  regiments  in  line,  —  the  101st,  the  103d 
and  the  104th,  —  with  the  brigade  machine-gun  units,  met  a 
determined  resistance.  The  enemy  machine-gun  fire  was 
intense.  The  artillery  without  daylight  registration  did  well, 
during  that  part  of  the  night  allowed  for  preparation,  in  cutting 
breaches  through  this  mass  of  wire,  which  were  completed  by 
the  infantry  before  and  during  the  attack. 

The  determined  and  effective  methods  of  the  infantry  in  the 
attack  on  the  machine-gun  nests,  the  deliberate  locating  of 
these  nests,  and  the  subsequent  infiltration  processes  used 
in  overcoming  these  nests;  the  bold  dashes  wherever  oppor- 
tunity offered,  in  one  case  resulting  in  the  2d  Battalion  of  the 
103d  Infantry  rushing  and  capturing  a  hostile  battalion  of 
greater  strength  before  the  enemy  could  raise  his  head;  the 
fine  liaison  and  co-operation  of  the  artillery;  the  expedition 
with  which  follow-up  roads  were  constructed  by  the  engineers; 
the  enterprise  of  the  medical,  supply  and  other  auxiliary  units, 
all  combined  to  prove  that  its  wide  service  and  experience 
have  made  this  a  veteran  division. 

I  was  pleased  with  all  elements  of  the  division, 

2.  By  dark  on  the  12th  the  principal  resistance  of  the  enemy 
had  been  overcome.  Then  came  the  order  to  close  the  gap 
between  our  forces  on  the  north  and  our  troops  advancing 
from  the  south,  in  order  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  enemy 
from  St.  Mihiel.  Our  mission  then  was  to  reach  VigneuUes 
before  daylight,  and  there  establish  contact  with  troops  of  our 
Fourth  Corps. 

153 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

3.  The  102d  Infantry,  in  the  division  reserve,  which  had 
followed  the  advance  closely  throughout  the  battle  in  readiness 
for  any  such  emergency,  was  ordered  to  spare  neither  energy 
nor  blood  to  accomplish  this  mission.  The  whole  division  was 
pushed  forward  through  the  night,  the  rest  of  the  Fifty-first 
Infantry  Brigade  following  the  dash  of  the  102d  Infantry,  and 
the  Fifty-second  Infantry  Brigade  moving  out  on  the  left 
rear  of  the  102d  Infantry,  with  the  towns  on  the  plain  to  the 
northwest  of  Hattonchatel,  to  include  St.  Maurice,  as  objectives. 

In  less  than  one-half  hour  after  receipt  of  this  order  the  102d 
Infantry  and  the  102d  Machine  Gun  Battalion  were  on  the 
march,  led  and  inspired  by  the  regimental  and  battalion  com- 
manders in  person.  They  marched  over  9  kilometers  on  the 
only  existing  road,  through  a  dense  forest,  in  an  unknown  and 
hostile  country  infested  with  the  enemy,  losing  for  the  time 
being  liaison  both  to  the  right  and  left.  The  leading  elements, 
passing  through  Hattonchatel,  reached  Vigneulles  before  2 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  took  complete  possession  of  these  two 
towns  by  3  o'clock,  and  pushing  out  occupied  Creue  and  Heudi- 
court  and  blocked  the  roads  leading  from  the  southwest,  while 
sending  patrols  further  into  the  plain  to  gain  contact  with  the 
American  forces  coming  from  the  south. 

This  advance  force  captured  many  prisoners,  much  ammuni- 
tion, stores  of  all  kind,  and  released  many  captive  civilians  from 
St.  Mihiel  that  the  enemy  in  his  hasty  retreat  was  forced  by  the 
102d  Infantry  to  abandon. 

With  this  advance  force  were  the  entire  102d  Infantry,  three 
companies  of  the  102d  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  and  part  of  the 
101st  Machine  Gun  Battalion  from  the  division  reserve.  This 
last  part,  abandoning  its  motors,  marched  14  kilometers,  carry- 
ing its  guns  by  hand  the  entire  way. 

By  morning  the  whole  command  had  taken  possession  of  all 
the  towns  in  the  sector  of  its  advance,  and  was  impatient  to 
pursue  the  enemy  across  the  Hindenburg  Line. 

4,  The  towns  of  St.  Remy,  Dommartin,  Thillot,  St.  Maurice, 
Billy-sous-les-Cotes,  Vieville-sous-les-Cotes,  Hattonchatel,  Han- 
nonvalle,  Vigneulles,  Creue,  Heudicourt,  Wadonville,  Avillers, 

154 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

and  Butgneville,  as  well  as  the  entire  length  of  the  Grande 
Tranchee  de  Calonne,  with  a  gain  of  14  kilometers,  belong 
to  your  arms. 

The  division  captured  about  2,400  prisoners,  large  stores  of 
supplies  and  ammunition,  horses,  and  motor  transportation, 
and  about  50  guns. 

I  am  proud  of  you.    You  are  a  shock  division. 

C.  R.  Edwards, 
Major-General,  Commanding, 


155 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

Edwards'  Report  on  St.  Mihiel 

In  his  report  of  operations  in  connection  with  the  reduc- 
tion of  the  St.  Mihiel  saHent,  issued  October  7,  General 
Edwards  went  into  the  fight  in  some  detail.  As  was  cus- 
tomary, he  also  made  certain  recommendations  based 
on  his  observations.     The  report  read:  — 

1.  On  September  G,  1918,  Battle  Instructions  No.  1,  Head- 
quarters First  Army  Corps,  giving  the  general  outline  of  pro- 
posed operations  against  the  St.  Mihiel  salient,  were  received. 
On  the  same  date  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  relieved  the 
Second  Division  de  Cavalerie  a  Pied  in  the  Rupt  sector,  the 
Commanding  General,  Twenty-sixth  Division,  taking  command 
of  the  sector  on  the  8th. 

On  September  11  Field  Orders  No.  77,  Twenty-sixth  Divi- 
sion, were  issued  in  accordance  with  Field  Orders  No.  17, 
Headquarters  Fifth  Army  Corps,  ordering  an  attack  on  D 
day  at  K  hour.  The  attack  was  to  be  made  with  three  regi- 
ments in  line,  the  102d  Infantry  and  101st  Machine  Gun  Bat- 
talion being  designated  as  division  reserve.  In  each  brigade 
sector  there  were  to  be  two  battalions  in  the  front  line,  each 
battalion  being  assigned  a  machine-gun  company,  Stokes 
mortar  and  37  m.m.  platoons,  a  section  of  smoke  and  thermite 
troops  of  the  1st  Gas  Regiment,  one-half  company  of  engineers 
and  one  75  m.m.  gun.  The  attack  was  to  be  preceded  by  an 
artillery  preparation  and  accompanied  by  a  rolling  barrage. 

2.  The  following  additional  artillery  units  were  put  at  the 
disposition  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division:  13th  Field  Artillery, 
77th  Field  Artillery,  203d  Regiment  (9  batteries)  (French  75s 
motorized),  22d  Battery,  5th  R.  A.  P.  (220  m.m.  howitzers), 
1st   Battalion    (2   batteries),  73d   Regiment  (270  m.m.  coast 

156 


Colonel  William  F.  Hayes 


Horse  Section,  101st  Ammunition  Train,  France 


SL::Ai;i^..., 

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W^^iifJa^PleS                                  ■ '^'f-   -^'c •  '-i^^^S^^^O^                   /' '"^^^^^k't  ^Hh^^*  ' '*' 

■  "^  r 

JHI^r':       ^^H 

■■-. 

International  Film  Service,  Inc. 

General  Pershing  decorating  Members  of  the  Infantry,  Engineers, 
Artillery  and  Medical  Corps  with  the  D.  S.  C,  La  Ferte,  France, 
July  12,  1918 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

howitzers),  28th  Battery,   176th    Regiment  (240    m.m.  trench 
mortar) . 

3.  The  artillery  bombardment  commenced  at  1  o'clock 
September  12.  The  targets  included  five  gaps  in  the  wire  to 
be  cut  by  75s,  and  one  by  150  m.m.  mortars.  This  work  was 
done  satisfactorily.  Fire  ceased  for  five  minutes  at  H  minus 
three  hours,  and  for  ten  minutes  at  H  minus  one  hour  and  five 
minutes,  to  allow  sound  ranging  to  be  carried  out.  The  pauses 
were  follov/ed,  respectively,  by  five  and  ten  minutes'  gas  con- 
centration on  back  areas. 

4.  At  8  o'clock,  September  12,  the  infantry  attacked,  fol- 
lowing a  rolling  barrage,  which  advanced  at  the  rate  of  100 
meters  in  four  minutes.  Liaison  was  maintained  with  flank 
divisions  by  mixed  combat  groups,  each  consisting  of  one  com- 
pany of  infantry  and  one  platoon  of  machine  guns  from  each 
division,  and  between  brigades  by  one  platoon  of  infantry  and 
one  section  of  machine  guns  from  each  brigade,  all  groups 
advancing  in  line  with  support  battalions.  The  terrain  was 
exceptionally  difficult,  being  wooded  and  rolling  and  much 
broken  by  trenches  and  shell  holes  and  covered  with  mazes  of 
wire  entanglements.  The  crossing  of  the  latter  was  made 
possible  by  the  gaps  cut  by  the  artillery,  and  by  gaps  opened  by 
the  infantry  and  engineers  by  means  of  wire  cutters  and  Ben- 
galore  torpedoes. 

For  the  first  kilometer  little  resistance  was  encountered, 
but  later  considerable  machine-gun  fire  developed  from  Kiel, 
Essen,  Stettin  and  Prusse  trenches.  There  was  also  some 
hostile  artillery  fire;  this  v/as  not  very  strong.  The  machine- 
gun  resistance  was  overcome  by  infiltration  combined  with 
fire  from  the  infantry  weapons,  and  by  gas  and  flame  troops 
v/hich  rendered  invaluable  assistance. 

A  half  hour's  halt  took  place  on  the  first  intermediate  ob- 
jective, the  Vaux-St.  Remy  road,  during  which  the  assaulting 
battalions  reorganized.  Resistance  was  strongest  on  the  right, 
and  this  had  caused  considerable  disorganization  of  the  right 
battalion,  101st  Infantry.  The  reserve  battalion  was  ordered 
forward,  and  the  1-102  was  ordered  to  leapfrog,  the  division 

157 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

reserve  having  at  10.15  o'clock  been  ordered  to  follow  up  the 
assaulting  troops.  The  advance  continued  from  the  first  in- 
termediate objective  without  much  opposition  on  the  right, 
but  meeting  with  stiff  resistance  on  the  left  in  I^e  Chanot  Bois. 
In  spite  of  this  resistance  the  objective  for  the  first  day,  the 
Longeau  Perme-Dompierre-aux-Bois  road,  was  reached  at 
about  19  o'clock. 

5.  At  15.15  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  12th  Field  Orders 
No.  19,  Fifth  Army  Corps,  were  received,  stating  that  the 
15th  D,  I.  C.  (French)  would  not  advance  beyond  the  line 
Hannonville-Longeau  Ferme;  that  it  would  organize  the  cap- 
tured front  from  Montgirmont  to  Herbeuville  (inclusive); 
that  it  would  transfer  to  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  the  cap- 
tured territory  lying  between  Herbeuville-Dommartin;  and 
that  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  would  take  over  from  the  15th 
D.  I.  C.  the  captured  territory  above  and  would  continue  its 
advance  to  Thillot-sous-les-Cotes  (exclusive)  and  Dompierre- 
aux-Bois  (inclusive). 

A  little  later  in  the  afternoon  the  commanding  general  of 
the  2d  D.  C.  A.  P.,  on  my  right,  came  to  my  P.  C.  and  stated 
that  as  the  left  of  his  division  had  reached  its  objectives  with 
the  right  of  my  division,  he  purposed,  knowing  the  above  or- 
ders, and  although  the  15th  D.  I.  C.  had  not  captured  the  above 
terrain,  to  continue  his  advance  after  the  retreating  enemy, 
bearing  to  the  left,  or  west,  his  objective  in  direction  of  St. 
Maurice,  and  asked  me  if  I  would  not  go  along  on  his  left  be- 
cause it  was  the  purpose  to  take  the  Heights  of  the  Meuse. 
I  agreed  to  the  proposition  and  sent  out  one  of  my  staff  officers 
to  the  Fifty-first  Infantry  Brigade  to  get  the  troops  ready  to 
participate. 

In  accordance  with  later  instructions,  which  I  received  about 
19.30  o'clock,  this  order  was  canceled,  and  I  directed  a  push- 
through  advance  on  Vigneulles  on  the  Grande  Tranchee  de 
Calonne.  I  immediately  transmitted  this  order  myself  by 
telephone  to  headquarters  Fifty-first  Infantry  Brigade,  re- 
ceived at  20.10  o'clock,  and  to  the  Commanding  General, 
Fifty-second  Infantry  Brigade,  received  at  about  21  o'clock. 

158 


I 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

An  aide-de-camp  of  Brigadier-General  Shelton  received  the 
message  at  headquarters  Fifty-first  Infantry  Brigade  and  took 
the  message  to  Brigadier-General  Shelton,  who  was  arranging 
the  pass-through  of  the  102d  Infantry  which  had  been  held  in 
division  reserve  with  the  other  elements  in  order  to  start  this 
turning  movement  above  described;  but  he  immediately 
changed  the  objective  to  Vigneulles,  and  in  a  half  hour  after 
the  order  had  been  received  the  102d  Infantry  was  on  the 
march.  These  orders  were  confirmed  afterwards  by  Field 
Orders  No.  78,  these  headquarters. 

The  102d  Infantry,  Machine  Gun  Company  of  101st  Infan- 
try, and  the  lO^d  Machine  Gun  Battalion  led  the  advance. 
The  101st  Field  Artillery  was  ordered  to  follow,  escorted  by 
one  battalion  of  the  101st  Infantry,  and  followed  by  the  rest 
of  that  regiment.  Due  to  the  impassable  condition  of  the 
roads  the  artillery  could  not  go  forward,  and  when  this  became 
evident  the  101st  Infantry  proceeded  without  them.  The 
101st  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  in  division  reserve,  was  also 
ordered  to  take  part  in  this  advance,  and  followed  the  102d 
Infantry.  The  leading  elements  of  the  lO^d  Infantry,  after 
cleaning  up  Hattonchatel,  reached  Vigneulles  at  2  o'clock, 
September  13,  and  the  101st  Machine  Gun  Battalion  arrived 
at  the  same  place  at  4.40  o'clock.  One  company  of  the  102d 
Infantry,  accompanied  by  machine  guns,  was  sent  to  Creue, 
and  two  companies,  accompanied  by  machine  guns,  were  sent 
to  Heudicourt.  Detachments  had  been  left  to  block  the  roads 
crossing  the  Grande  Tranchee  de  Calonne  from  the  southwest 
and  prevent  the  passage  of  the  enemy.  Patrols  sent  out  from 
Vigneulles  to  the  east  and  southeast  gained  contact  ^\^th  the 
leading  elements  of  the  First  Division.  The  101st  Infantry 
reached  Hattonchatel  at  8  o'clock  on  the  13th. 

6.  The  Fifty-second  Infantry  Brigade  had  been  making  dis- 
positions to  participate  in  the  movement  above  indicated  by 
the  commanding  general,  2d  D.  C.  A.  P.,  and  at  the  same  time 
I  gave  orders  for  the  advance  of  the  102d  Infantry  I  ad\ased 
the  commanding  general  of  the  Fifty-second  Infantry  Brigade 
that  he  would  move  out  by  any  roads  that  were  possible,  if  he 

lo9 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

could  find  any,  on  the  left  and  rear  of  the  102d  Infantry  ad- 
vance. The  left  of  the  Fifty-second  Brigade  had  been  advanc- 
ing irrespective  of  the  fact  that  the  15th  D.  I.  C.  on  the  left 
had  not  kept  up,  and  was  subjected  to  a  good  deal  of  enfiladed 
fire  from  the  territory  in  front  of  this  French  division  through- 
out the  day. 

Afterwards,  when  I  learned  of  the  impassability  of  the  roads, 
I  gave  the  objective  of  this  brigade  from  Hattonchatel  to  and 
including  St.  Maurice.  This  brigade  encountered  considerable 
resistance  from  machine-gun  nests,  but  reached  their  objectives 
indicated  the  next  morning.  There  was  great  difficulty  in  the 
dark,  and  going  forward  as  they  had  to  in  battle  formation,  to 
get  messages  from  the  leading  assault  battalions  to  the  regi- 
mental headquarters. 

7.  The  movement  forward  of  the  artillery  was  delayed  until 
a  road  could  be  constructed  across  No  Man's  Land.  However, 
two  of  the  accompanying  pieces  succeeded  in  crossing  at  17 
o'clock  on  the  12th.  The  road  was  made  practicable  at  13 
o'clock,  September  13,  and  the  101st  Field  Artillery,  102d 
Field  Artillery  and  77th  Field  Artillery  immediately  moved 
forward  to  new  positions. 

8.  Infantry.  —  As  stated  above,  to  each  assaulting  battalion 
were  assigned  a  machine-gun  company,  Stokes  mortar  and  37 
m.m.  platoons,  a  section  of  smoke  and  thermite  troops  from 
the  1st  Gas  Regiment,  one-half  company  of  engineers,  and  a 
section  of  75  m.m.  guns.  This  was  found  to  furnish  the  in- 
fantry powerful  means  of  overcoming  machine-gun  nests,  but 
the  accompanying  thermite  or  gas  weapons  could  have  been 
more  effectively  used  if  commanders  concerned  had  had  more 
training  together.  The  problems  encountered  were  those  of 
transporting  the  material  across  the  difficult  terrain  and  making 
the  proper  tactical  use  of  them  by  infantry  commanders. 
Combined  training  is  necessary  to  produce  complete  co-opera- 
tion and  secure  the  best  results  in  battle.  Possibly  the  Stokes 
mortar  units  could  be  equipped  with  the  new  long-distance 
shell  with  thermite  charges. 

9.  Engineers.  —  The  divisional  engineers  are  insufficient  in 

160 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

number  in  an  attack  against  long-established  positions.  The 
various  missions  of  assisting  the  infantry  advance  by  wire 
cutting,  both  by  hand  and  Bengalore  torpedoes;  of  getting  the 
artillery,  including  the  accompanying  guns,  over  to  No  Man's 
Land;  and  of  road  building  and  general  road  repairing  are  more 
than  one  regiment  can  cope  with.  Although  in  this  operation 
the  101st  Engineers  did  unusual  and  devoted  work,  yet  it  was 
twenty-four  hours  before  the  main  body  of  the  artillery  was 
able  to  cross  No  Man's  Land.  Engineers  assigned  to  advanced 
road  work  should  be  given  the  authority  of  Military  Police, 
and  should  receive  instructions  from  the  A.  P.  M.  They  will 
thus  be  assisted  in  their  own  work  of  road  repair,  and  at  the 
same  time  lighten  the  burden  confronting  the  Military  Police. 

10.  Artillery. — The  rolling  barrage,  advancing  at  the  rate 
of  100  meters  in  four  minutes,  and  uniform  over  the  divisional 
front,  proved  to  be  too  fast  for  the  right  battalions,  whose 
terrain  was  covered  with  underbrush  and  much  wire  and 
entanglements,  although  the  left  battalions  were  able  to  keep 
close  up  behind  it.  It  may  not  be  practicable  to  have  different 
rates  of  barrage  on  the  same  divisional  front,  but  in  this  par- 
ticular operation  the  difficulty  might  have  been  met  by  the 
employment  of  progressive  concentrations  rather  than  a  real 
barrage.  This  would  not  have  given  as  much  moral  support 
to  the  infantry  as  would  a  rolling  barrage,  but  it  is  believed  that 
in  this  particular  case  our  infantry  has  such  confidence  in  our 
artillery  that  this  added  moral  support  could  have  been  dis- 
pensed with  in  view  of  the  advantages  to  be  gained. 

11.  Machine  Guns. — The  101st  Machine  Gun  Battalion 
(partially  motorized),  forming  part  of  the  division  reserve,  was 
pushed  forward  behind  the  102d  Infantry  to  Vigneulles.  The 
roads  across  No  Man's  Land  being  impassable,  the  battalion 
unloaded  its  guns  and  ammunition  and  carried  them  by  hand, 
accomplishing  the  march  of  18  kilometers  in  seven  hours,  only 
one  man  failing  to  finish.  This  performance  was  remarkable, 
and  was  more  than  can  normally  be  expected.  Inasmuch  as 
the  condition  of  the  roads  in  No  Man's  Land  will  seldom  permit 
the  motors  to  be  pushed  forward  in  the  critical  stages  of  the 

161 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

battle,  it  is  believed  that  some  form  of  light-wheeled  mount 
should  be  provided  that  can  be  carried  on  the  motors  with  the 
guns  for  use  in  such  emergency. 

12.  Reserve.  —  The  advance  on  Vigneulles  showed  strongly 
the  advantage  of  keeping  a  regiment  as  a  unit  in  reserve.  As 
this  regiment  had  been  kept  well  in  hand,  the  march  on  Vig- 
neulles commenced  within  one-half  hour  after  the  order  was 
received. 

13.  Intelligence.  —  Prearranged  plans  for  the  collection  and 
transmission  of  intelligence  information  worked  well  as  far  to 
the  rear  as  brigade  headquarters,  but  in  rear  of  that  intelligence 
was  often  sidetracked.  It  is  recommended  that  a  forward 
division  intelligence  center  be  established  with  direct  wire 
connections  to  the  brigades  and  to  the  G-2  office,  and  with 
runners  for  use  in  emergencies. 

In  this  operation  the  division  observers  were  divided  into 
two  echelons  so  that  one  post  was  always  in  operation.  The 
assignment  of  an  officer  to  the  observer  squad,  though  not  pro- 
vided in  the  tables  of  organization,  greatly  increased  the  value 
of  the  information  obtained.  It  is  believed  that  the  tables 
of  organization  should  provide  for  two  officers  with  the  divi- 
sion observers.  This  would  greatly  increase  the  efficiency  of 
the  service  during  attacks,  and  in  quiet  sectors  these  officers 
could  be  used  to  supervise  the  training  of  the  observers  of 
lower  echelons.  Observation  posts  selected  during  an  advance 
should  be  as  near  the  axis  of  liaison  as  possible;  but  even  so, 
runners,  telephone,  wire,  optical  signalling  apparatus  and  other 
portable  means  of  liaison  should  be  provided  to  enable  informa- 
tion to  get  back  promptly  enough  to  be  of  value. 

14.  Traffic  Control.  —  Experience  in  this  advance  emphasizes 
the  need  of  pushing  traffic  control  posts  forward  closely  behind 
the  advancing  infantry,  and  of  laying  down  a  schedule  of  traf- 
fic priority.  During  such  an  advance  the  allowance  of  Military 
Police  is  none  too  great  for  the  needs  of  a  division.  They 
should  not  be  depleted  by  detachments  for  corps  or  army 
duties  in  an  advance. 

15.  Air  Service.  —  Although  every  effort  had  been  made  to 

162 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

improve  the  liaison  between  the  air  service  and  the  infantry, 
the  results  were  not  satisfactory.  Perfect  telephone  com- 
munication between  division  headquarters  and  the  aerodrome 
is  essential,  and  squadrons  if  not  forming  a  part  of  a  division 
should  at  least  be  permanently  assigned  to  it,  if  perfect  liaison 
is  to  be  obtained. 

16.  Liaison  Agents.  —  Division  liaison  agents  were  assigned 
to  both  divisions  on  our  flanks  and  to  brigade  headquarters. 

17.  Posts  of  Command.  —  As  above  stated,  the  fact  that  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  regiment  in  reserve  was  aisle  to  be 
actually  with  his  regiment  enabled  that  organization  to  get  in 
movement  very  promptly  when  orders  for  the  march  to  Vig- 
neulles  were  received.  On  the  other  hand,  an  order  received 
at  a  brigade  P.  C.  could  not  be  delivered  to  the  commanding 
general  for  one  hour,  due  to  the  fact  that  he  was  out  with  his 
troops.  The  lesson  is  that  though  a  commander  should  be  well 
to  the  front  in  order  to  follow  the  development  of  events  and 
to  have  his  units  in  hand,  he  must  nevertheless  be  in  touch  with 
the  higher  command.  These  considerations  can  be  reconciled 
by  pushing  P.  Cs.  well  to  the  front,  and  by  requiring  each  com- 
manding officer  when  he  leaves  his  P.  C.  to  have  ready  liaison 
with  it,  preferably,  depending  on  the  distance,  by  some  means 
more  rapid  than  runners. 


163 


CHAPTER  XIX 
102d  Takes  Prisoners 

Having  eliminated  the  big  St.  Mihiel  salient,  the 
Twenty-sixth  Division  was  pulled  back  to  its  original 
sector,  which  extended  way  to  the  front  due  to  the  evacua- 
tion of  the  Boche.  This  sector  was  on  the  crown  of  a 
range  of  hills  with  the  advanced  posts  far  out  in  the  plain 
below.  It  was  an  ideal  position,  and  the  New  Englanders 
dominated  the  territory  for  miles  around.  The  sector 
had  originally  included  the  little  town  of  St.  Hilaire, 
but  because  the  terrain  was  difficult  to  hold,  and  be- 
cause of  the  fact  that  the  town  was  well  within  range  of 
the  American  artillery,  it  had  been  relinquished.  It 
was  here  that  the  Germans  sent  over  a  raiding  party, 
but  it  was  met  with  a  terrific  fire,  and  turned  back  with 
heavy  losses,  leaving  a  number  of  prisoners  behind. 

Meantime  a  conference  of  officers  was  held  to  meet  the 
officers  of  the  Second  French  Colonial  Corps.  Here  Colonel 
Bearss,  commanding  the  102d  Infantry,  asserted  that  the 
Germans  were  showing  signs  of  activity  opposite  his 
position,  moving  men  down  into  the  wood  of  Warville 
and  the  town  of  St.  Hilaire.  He  asked  and  received 
permission  to  send  out  a  strong  patrol  for  the  purpose  of 
taking  prisoners. 

Colonel  Bearss,  who  was  fonnerly  an  officer  in  the 
Marine  Corps,  then  selected  four  platoons,  taking  them 
from  every  battalion  in  the  regiment.  Two  of  them, 
commanded  by  Captain  Oberlin,  were  ordered  to  go 
straight  into  St.  Hilaire  and  secure  prisoners.  The  other 
two  were  to  support  the  flanks  of  the  attackers.     Then 

164 


International  Film  Service,  Inc. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  William  J.  Keville 


One  of  United  States  Railway  Guns  in  France 


Hearst  News  Film 

President  Wilson  saluting  American  Soldiers  who  aided  in  winning 
Victory  at  Chateau-Thierry,  France 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

four  more  platoons  were  picked,  under  Captain  A.  W. 
Dillard,  and  an  hour  later  than  the  St.  Hilaire  attack 
were  sent  into  the  Bois  de  Warville. 

WTiile  waiting  for  the  artillery  preparation  to  cease, 
members  of  the  two  parties  made  many  wagers  on  which 
would  come  back  first  with  prisoners. 

At  10.45  P.M.  the  artillery  strafing  changed  into  a  rolling 
barrage,  and  the  St.  Hilaire  party  jumped  off.  Then  a 
box  barrage  was  laid  around  the  town,  and  the^platoons 
went  forward,  finding  heavy  iron  wire  on  iron  stakes 
stretching  across  the  road  into  town.  Under  an  intense 
machine-gun  fire  this  obstruction  was  removed,  and  the 
main  body,  headed  by  Captain  Oberlin,  rushed  for  St. 
Hilaire.  Just  then  there  was  a  terrific  explosion,  and  a 
section  of  the  road  rose  in  air,  carrying  the  captain  and 
several  of  his  men  with  it.  It  had  been  mined  by  the 
enemy.  Fortunateljs  no  one  was  seriously  injured,  and 
the  party  surged  on.  There  was  a  scrambling  in  the  town, 
and  when  the  Americans  reached  there  not  a  Boche  was 
to  be  found.  Angry  and  disappointed,  the  raiders  were 
forced  to  return  with  no  prisoners. 

At  11.45  the  guns  opened  up  on  the  woods  which  the 
other  party  were  to  attack,  changed  to  a  rolling  barrage, 
behind  which  the  American  platoons  crept,  and  then 
switched  into  a  box  barrage.  The  Germans  had  planted 
machine  guns  in  the  trees,  and  the  bursts  of  flame  from 
these  v/ere  seen  by  Colonel  Bearss,  who  was  watching  the 
course  of  the  attack.  He  immediately  got  in  touch  with 
the  heavy  guns,  and  after  a  few  high  explosives  had 
dropped  into  the  woods  the  machine-gun  firing  ceased. 

The  New  Englanders  advanced  into  the  woods,  and 
there  in  the  dark  they  engaged  in  hand-to-hand  combat 
with  a  considerable  number  of  the  enemy.  There  was  a 
good  deal  of  confusion,  ov/ing  to  the  darkness,  but  the 

165 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

enemy  fought  only  half-heartedly,  and  the  Americans 
secured  a  number  of  prisoners.  Then,  the  time  being  up, 
they  returned  to  their  own  lines  carrying  fifteen  of  the 
enemy  with  them.  Only  two  slight  injuries  were  reported 
among  the  Yankee  forces. 

Dr.  Charles  Comfort  of  New  Haven  went  along  with 
the  St.  Hilaire  raiders,  but  had  nothing  to  do.  The  Rev. 
James  P.  Sherry  of  Lowell,  chaplain  of  the  regiment,  at- 
tached himself  to  the  other  party,  and  justified  his  action 
by  boosting  Private  John  Cummings  of  New  Haven  up  a 
tree.  Cummings  wanted  to  locate  a  field  piece  and  a 
machine  gun  that  were  firing  from  somewhere  beyond  the 
woods.  This  he  succeeded  in  doing,  despite  the  heavy  fire 
and  the  fact  that  he  afforded  an  excellent  target  for  the 
enemy. 

The  next  engagement  of  the  division  was  on  Sep- 
tember 26,  when  the  Argonne-Meuse  offense  opened.  The 
Yankee  Division  made  a  diversion  attack  at  this  time  in 
order  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  utilizing  his  artillery 
from  Woevre.  While  this  engagement  was  of  practically 
small  importance  compared  to  the  great  offensive,  it  was 
one  of  the  most  intense  struggles  in  which  the  division 
participated. 

Out  in  the  great  plain  of  the  Woevre  were  two  towns, 
Marcheville  and  Riaville.  These  towns  were  held  by  the 
enemy,  and  the  Yankees  were  ordered  to  take  and  hold 
them  for  twenty-four  hours. 

For  weeks  the  preparations  for  the  Champagne  offensive 
had  been  going  quietly  on,  and  the  Twenty-sixth  were 
beginning  to  feel  that  they  were  to  be  overlooked.  On 
the  night  of  September  25,  however,  orders  arrived. 
Company  cooks  were  told  to  prepare  two  cooked  meals, 
and  the  oflScers  were  then  called  to  a  conference  at  di- 
visional  headquarters.      It   was   then   learned   that   the 

166 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

artillery  preparation  would  begin  at  11.30  that  night,  and 
at  5.30  the  following  morning  the  regiment,  commanded 
by  Colonel  Bearss,  would  start  an  attack  against  Marche- 
ville.  At  the  same  hour  the  103d  Infantry  would  move 
against  Ria,ville,  over  to  the  left. 

The  whole  attack  was  in  charge  of  Colonel  Bearss,  who 
went  over  the  top  with  the  men,  accompanied  by  Colonel 
James  L.  Howard,  as  liaison  officer,  and  Major  E.  E. 
Lewis,  who  commanded  the  attacking  battalion.' 

The  two  objectives  were  little  villages,  consisting  of 
groups  of  houses  on  country  roads.  There  is  a  road 
leading  across  the  plain  from  Champion  to  Riaville,  and 
another  from  Saulx  to  Marcheville,  while  a  third  road 
runs  from  Marcheville  to  Riaville.  Crosswise  there  were 
trenches,  and  around  each  town  broad  belts  of  wire. 

It  was  still  dark  at  5.30,  with  blankets  of  smoke  hang- 
ing over  the  positions,  and  concealing  the  men.  The 
attacking  parties  worked  up  the  trench  systems  until 
they  encountered  machine-gun  opposition,  which  they 
flanked  out.  They  reached  the  two  towns  some  time 
after  daylight,  and  were  immediately  subjected  to  a 
smashing  artillery  bombardment.  Colonel  Bearss  and 
Colonel  Howard  rode  into  Marcheville  ahead  of  the 
troops,  and  Colonel  Howard  personally  directed  the 
machine-gun  fire.  Major  Lewis  and  Major  Hanson  were 
in  and  out  of  the  two  towns  several  times  during  the 
day,  and  continually  exposed  themselves  while  directing 
the  attacks.  At  dark,  orders  were  received  to  retire  to 
the  original  positions,  and  the  men  went  back  in  good 
order,  one  group  holding  back  the  enemy  while  another 
withdrew.  Twenty -nine  prisoners  were  taken  at  Marche- 
ville. 

Major  Hanson  and  the  battalion  attacking  Riaville 
early  encountered  opposition.    They  took  cover  in  two 

167 


THE   YANKEE  DIVISION 

mottes  of  trees,  at  the  corner  of  a  trench  which  ran  across 
the  foot  of  the  hill  in  front  of  Riaville.  Shelled  out  from 
these  the  Yankees  came  out  into  the  fields,  and  under 
what  cover  they  could  find  re-formed  and  moved  up  to 
the  second  ditch.  Twice  they  reached  a  point  a  short 
distance  from  the  town,  and  each  time  were  held  up  by 
machine-gun  fire.  Then  Major  Hanson  called  for  artil- 
lery, but  the  German  positions  were  impregnable.  The 
Boches  were  huddled  in  concrete  pill  boxes,  against  which 
artillery  fire  was  useless. 

At  12.30  the  artillery  ceased,  and  the  attacking  forces 
managed  to  make  their  way  into  the  town,  driving  off  a 
counter  attack.  Then  their  machine  guns  held  off  the 
Boche,  while  the  enemy  artillery  pounded  the  town. 

In  the  meantime  the  other  party  was  having  troubles 
of  its  own.  On  the  brow  of  the  hill  it  ran  into  machine- 
gun  fire,  and  immediately  started  to  flank  out  the  em- 
placements, which  were  mostly  pill  boxes.  Colonel  Bearss, 
Colonel  Howard  and  Major  Lewis,  with  about  twenty 
men,  most  of  them  runners,  reached  the  westerly  edge  of 
the  town,  and  took  shelter  under  a  high  wall  which  was 
still  standing.  From  there  they  penetrated  to  the  main 
street,  discovering  a  strong  point  and  abri  in  a  little  square 
where  the  road  made  a  turn.  Here  headquarters  were 
established. 

In  the  meantime  the  troops  had  gotten  into  the  town, 
and  the  Yankee  machine  guns  drove  the  Boche  out.  The 
enemy  retreated  up  a  trench  toward  the  next  town,  and 
from  there  launched  a  counter  attack  preceded  by  a 
terrific  artillery  bombardment.  When  this  counter  at- 
tack was  made  the  New  Englanders  dropped  back  to  the 
trench  in  front,  as  the  enemy  had  gone  around  to  the 
south  and  were  attempting  to  flank  them. 

The  headquarters  party  knew  notliing  about  this,   and 

168 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

before  they  realized  what  was  happening  were  menaced  on 
three  sides.  They  took  up  a  position  with  their  three 
machine  guns  in  the  middle  of  the  town,  and  began  to 
stand  off  the  Germans.  They  managed  to  drive  off  the 
enemy  from  the  south,  and  then,  their  ammunition  running 
low,  fell  back  around  the  wall,  to  the  ditch.  Here  they 
were  again  forced  to  fight,  and  eventually  fell  back  to  the 
corner  under  an  enfilading  fire  from  the  enemy. 

The  members  of  the  little  party  were  in  a  precarious 
position  when  Lieutenant  Linton,  of  General  Shelton's 
staff,  came  to  their  rescue.  He  had  heard  of  their  diffi- 
culties back  in  Saulx,  where  he  had  gone  with  an  order. 
Lieutenant  Linton  gathered  together  some  25  men, 
and  dashing  across  the  open  country  in  face  of  the 
enemy's  fire  reached  the  town.  The  other  party  sig- 
naled from  the  trench,  and  he  joined  them.  The  in- 
creased forces  were  sufficient  to  get  the  entire  party  to  a 
safer  position. 

It  was  during  this  time  that  Lieutenant  Paul  Hines,  a 
Boston  newspaper  man  and  assistant  to  the  regimental 
adjutant  of  the  102d,  did  something  which  won  him  the 
Distinguished  Service  Cross.  A  wounded  officer  was 
lying  in  the  open  in  front  of  Marcheville,  and  Lieutenant 
Hines  announced  he  was  going  to  get  him.  It  looked  to 
be  impossible,  but  the  remainder  of  the  little  head- 
quarters party  agreed  to  give  him  what  assistance  they 
could.  Spreading  out  they  opened  a  hot  fire,  and  while 
thus  keeping  tJie  Germans  busy  the  young  lieutenant 
and  two  men  rushed  out  and  brought  back  the  wounded 
officer. 

It  was  at  Marcheville  that  Lieutenant  Linton  met  his 
death,  after  conducting  himself  through  the  day  in  a  man- 
ner which  gained  for  him  the  Distinguished  Service  Cross. 
The  citation  read :  — 

169 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

First  Lieutenant  Frederick  M.  Linton,  deceased.  Fifty-first 
Infantry  Brigade.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near 
Marcheville  and  Riaville,  France,  September  25-26,  1918. 
Lieutenant  Linton,  while  acting  as  haison  officer  with  brigade 
headquarters,  volunteered  to  carry  a  message  from  the  front 
lines  to  the  rear  through  a  terrific  barrage  and  murderous 
machine-gun  fire.  After  successfully^  accomplishing  this  mis- 
sion he  returned  with  a  platoon  of  reinforcements  across  an 
open  field  through  the  same  heavy  fire.  When  the  town  of 
Marcheville  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands  he  volunteered  to  lead 
a  platoon  in  the  counter  attack,  and  was  wounded  while  in 
command.  He  retained  command  and  held  his  ground  with 
the  platoon  until  he  received  his  second  and  fatal  wound. 
Home  address,  Mrs.  Frederick  M.  Linton,  38  Fletcher  Street, 
Roslindale. 


170 


CHAPTER  XX 

Colonel  Bearss's  Report 

The  report  of  Colonel  Bearss,  who  led  the  attack  on 
Marcheville  and  Riaville,  is  a  brief,  soldierly  document, 
and  is  of  interest  at  this  time.    It  read :  — 

Headquarters  102d  United  States  Infantry, 
American  Expeditionary  Forces,  September  28,  1918. 

From:      Commanding  Officer,  102d  United  States  Infantry. 

To :  Commanding  General,  Twenty-sixth  Division  (through 

military  channels). 

Subject :  Report  of  attack  on  Marcheville  and  Riaville,  Septem- 
ber 26,  1918. 

1.  In  accordance  with  the  orders  of  the  commanding  general, 
Twenty-sixth  Division,  the  following  troops  attacked  Riaville 
and  Marcheville:  1st  Battalion,  102d  Infantry;  1st  Battalion, 
103d  Infantry;  Companies  A  and  B,  102d  Machine  Gun  Bat- 
talion, Fifty-first  Infantry  Brigade;  Company  B,  103d  Machine 
Gun  Battalion,  Fifty-second  Infantry  Brigade;  Machine  Gun 
Company,  103d  Infantry;  Compa.ny  B  (less  one-half),  101st 
Engineers;  Company  F  (less  one-half),  101st  Engineers;  Fifty- 
first  Artillery  Brigade;  detachment,  101st  Field  Signal  Bat- 
talion; detached  Sanitary  Troops  and  Stokes  mortar  platoon; 
37  m.m.  platoons  of  103d  and  102d  Infantry  regiments. 

2.  At  5.30  A.M.  the  troops  commenced  their  advance.  At 
6  A.M.  a  thick  smoke  screen,  accompanied  by  a  heavy  barrage 
of  artillery  and  machine-gun  fire,  was  put  down  in  advance  of 
our  line.  At  this  juncture  progress  was  very  difficult  and  neces- 
sarily slow,  and  because  of  poor  visibility,  due  to  the  smoke 
and  resulting  fog,  our  troops  at  times  got  to  within  20  feet  of 
machine  guns  without  detecting  their  presence.  Hand  grenades 
too  were  thrown  at  us  in  abundance  by  a  few  of  the  enemy, 
unnoticed  through  the  thick  fog,  in  shell  holes  near  by. 

171 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

3.  The  town  was  entered  after  stubborn  fighting  at  9  a.m., 
and  our  objective  reached  at  10  o'clock.  In  this  primary  action 
we  captured  about  thirty  prisoners.  We  found  the  town  of 
Marcheville  infested  with  machine-gun  nests,  pill  boxes,  snipers 
and  grenade  throwers.  Old  ruined  buildings,  broken-down 
walls,  innocent  looking  pieces  of  tar  paper  and  other  debris 
concealed  within  or  underneath  machine  guns  and  crews  of 
grenade  throwers.  Undaunted  by  the  constant  sniping  from 
ambush,  and  the  persistent  sputter  of  the  hidden  and  unsus- 
pected machine  guns,  our  men  charged  in  the  direction  of  the 
fire,  routed  the  crews,  and  engaged  them  in  a  most  bitter  hand- 
to-hand  struggle.  The  treachery  of  the  enemy  was  once  more 
manifest  when  they  threw  up  their  hands  shouting,  "Kamerad!" 
Hardly  had  we  ceased  firing  and  called  to  them  in  German  to 
surrender,  when  we  were  greeted  with  a  volley  of  grenades  and 
a  fusillade  of  machine-gun  bullets  from  points  in  the  rear  and 
between  the  intervals  of  their  formation. 

4.  The  enemy  was  reinforced  several  times  during  the  day 
and  counter-attacked  violently,  with  the  result  that  the  town 
changed  hands  four  times,  leaving  us,  however,  in  full  pos- 
session when  at  19.45  o'clock,  in  accordance  with  our  orders, 
we  returned  under  cover  of  darkness. 

5.  Our  retirement  was  accomplished  under  the  most  terrific 
artillery  and  machine-gun  fire,  but  fortunately  without  any 
serious  casualties. 

6.  Of  the  valor  and  courage  of  the  officers  and  men  who 
participated  in  the  attack  too  much  cannot  be  said  in  honor  and 
eulogy.  Those  who  survived  the  combat,  as  well  as  the  brave 
officers  and  men  who  fell  in  the  field,  displayed  that  dashing, 
courageous  spirit,  that  tenacity  of  purpose  and  willing  accept- 
ance of  hardship  and  sacrifice,  that  have  become  traditional 
in  the  Twenty-sixth  Division.  They  fought  from  sunrise  to 
sunset  with  but  one  thought  and  purpose,  —  to  divert  the  enemy 
from  every  other  direction  and  purpose,  and  engage  him  as 
bus'ly  as  possible  throughout  the  day. 

7.  Our  losses  due  to  the  extremely  heavy  artillery  and 
machine-gun  fire,  and  the  hand-to-hand  fighting  incident  to 

172 


I 


Purdy 


Lieutenant-Colonel  Frank  S.  Perkins 


International  Film  Service,  Inc. 

Company  B,  101st  Supply  Train,'' unloading  Bread  for  Use  en  Route 
to  Front,  Chatillon,  France,  August  28,  1918 


International  Filmj.Service,  Inc. 
First   American    Wounded   of    the    103d 
Infantry,     Bois     d'Esparges,     France, 
September  12,  1918 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

carrying  on  our  mission,  are  greatly  compensated  by  the  realiza- 
tion that  we  carried  out  as  perfectly  as  we  could  our  mission 
contained  in  division  orders. 

8.  Among  other  officers  who  displayed  exceptional  courage 
and  bravery  I  must  mention  Major  E.  E.  Lewis,  102d  Infantry, 
second  in  command  of  the  attack,  for  his  extraordinary  initi- 
ative, energy  and  bravery.  He  organized  the  position  in 
Marcheville,  collected  all  the  scattered  units,  established 
liaison,  and  in  the  hand-to-hand  fighting  attendant  on  the 
retaking  of  the  town  displayed  a  natural-born  leadership,  — 
those  soldierly  qualities  of  coolness  and  bravery  that  were  an 
inspiration  to  all,  and  begot  in  the  men  under  him  a  confidence 
and  bull-dog  tenacity  of  purpose  that  are  always  productive  of 
success. 

H.  I.  Bearss, 
Colonel,  U.  S.  M.  C,  Commanding. 

In  indorsing  this  communication  Brigadier-General 
Shelton  said :  — 

1.  This  attack  was  made  under  division  orders  and  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  plan  of  the  2d  Colonial  Corps  for  a  deep 
raid  on  each  division  sector  on  the  corps  front  simultaneously 
with  and  as  a  diversion  for  the  main  attack  of  the  American 
and  French  armies  northwest  of  Verdun.  The  division  orders 
directed  a  raid  by  a  battalion  of  the  102d  Infantry  on  Marche- 
ville, connecting  with  the  raid  by  a  battalion  of  the  103d  In- 
fantry on  Riaville.  Both  operations  were  placed  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  H.  I.  Bearss,  102d  Infantry.  The  limits 
of  the  raid  and  objective  were  fixed  practically  by  the  limit  of 
effective  artillery  fire  from  our  guns  on  the  heights  of  the 
Meuse.  The  plan  further  contemplated,  after  attainment  of 
the  objectives,  that  the  troops  should  remain  in  possession 
thereof  until  nightfall.  This  was  understood  to  be  important 
in  accomplishing  the  purpose  of  the  diversion  on  this  front, 
and  was  necessary  to  admit  withdrawal  of  the  troops  across  the 
open  plain  under  cover  of  darkness.     The  artillery  prepara- 

173 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

tion  began  at  23.30  o'clock,  September  25,  and  continued  until 
the  infantry  advanced  at  5.30  o'clock,  September  26. 

2.  The  foregoing  report  of  Colonel  Bearss  covers  briefly  the 
main  facts  of  the  attack  on  Marcheville  in  so  far  as  data  were 
available  at  the  time  it  was  prepared,  immediately  after  the 
return  of  his  command  to  its  normal  positions.  It  does  not 
cover  so  fully  the  attack  on  Riaville  by  the  battalion  of  the 
103d  Infantry  because  at  the  time  of  its  preparation  complete 
reports  from  this  battalion  were  not  at  hand.  But  Colonel 
Bearss's  bare  recital  of  facts  in  no  way  does  justice  to  the 
remarkable  accomplishment  of  his  troops  throughout  the  day 
of  September  26,  and  still  less  to  his  own  fine  conduct  of  the 
attack,  his  brilliant  leadership,  and  his  remarkable  personal 
courage.  The  position  attacked,  known  to  be  strongly  held, 
had  been  reinforced,  it  appears  from  statements  of  prisoners, 
during  the  night  preceding  the  attack.  This  reinforcement 
may  have  been  due  to  the  warning  afforded  by  the  artillery 
preparation,  or  to  the  activity  of  our  troops  in  this  sector 
during  the  preceding  ten  days.  The  difficulties  confronting  the 
attacking  forces  in  this  way  were  increased  through  the  artil- 
lery fire  which  the  enemy  was  able  to  bring  upon  the  position 
while  in  our  possession,  and  against  which,  due  to  the  reactive 
location  of  the  enemy  artillery  and  ours,  it  was  possible  to 
bring  no  effective  counter-battery  work. 

3.  Due  to  the  darkness  and  fog  and  the  smoke  screen 
employed  by  the  enemy,  there  was  some  delay  in  the  first 
entry  of  the  main  attacking  forces  into  Marcheville.  Colonel 
Bearss,  accompanying  the  advance  with  the  liaison  group  con- 
necting the  two  attacking  battalions,  was,  with  his  staff, 
actuallj^  on  this  account  the  first  of  our  forces  to  enter  Marche- 
ville. Thereafter  he  personally  shared  with  his  staff  in  all  that 
his  command  endured  throughout  the  day,  and  personally 
directed  the  combat  on  the  ground.  It  is  not  easily  possible 
to  do  full  justice  to  all  that  was  endured  by  all  concerned  in 
this  part  of  the  operations,  or  to  describe  the  courage  and 
fortitude  that  was  displayed  in  the  complete  accomplishment 
of  the  assigned  mission.     In  my  judgment  these  operations 

174 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

form  one  of  the  unique  and  heroic  achievements  of  the  war  in 
which  every  man  taking  part  is  entitled  to  credit. 

4.  Colonel  Bearss  showed  himself  throughout  these  opera- 
tions, as  he  has  shown  himself  on  every  other  occasion  since 
coming  under  my  command,  fully  capable  of  exercising  brigade 
command.  Separate  recommendation  for  his  appointment  as 
brigadier-general  will  be  submitted.  Recommendations  for 
suitable  rewards  for  others  who  distinguished  themselves  in 
these  operations  will  be  forwarded  as  soon  as  they^can  be 
prepared. 

George  H.  Shelton, 
Brigadier-General,  U.  S.  Army,  Commanding. 


175 


CHAPTER  XXI 
Yankees  Create  Diversion 

While  occupying  the  Troyon  sector,  which  it  organized 
after  the  battle  of  St.  Mihiel,  the  Yankee  Division  named 
its  two  subsectors  "Massachusetts"  and  "Connecticut." 
Its  various  P.  Cs.  were  also  given  names  of  the  capitals 
of  the  States  of  New  England. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  engagement  of  September  26, 
from  the  Meuse  beyond  the  Argonne,  the  role  of  the 
Yankees  was  to  make  the  Germans  believe  that  they 
purposed  to  break  through  and  attack  Metz.  In  this 
way  they  created  a  diversion  and  helped  out  the  main 
attack  on  the  Argonne-Meuse  front.  As  a  result  of  their 
activities  the  following  letters  were  received :  — 

Headquarters,  Second  Colonial  Corps  Staft, 
October  5,  1918. 

No.  29329. 

From:      General     Blondlat,     Commanding     Second     Colonial 

Corps. 
To:  The  Commander-in-Chief  (through  channels,  General 

commanding  Second  Army). 

Subject :  Proposition  for  Citation  in  Army  Orders  in  Favor  of  the 
1st  Battalion,  102d  Regiment  of  Infantry,  U.  S. 

I  have  the  honor  to  send  you  the  report  which  I  had  the 
General  commanding  the  Twenty-sixth  United  States  Division 
make  on  the  very  hard  and  glorious  combat  in  which  this  division 
engaged  on  September  26,  1918. 

The  Second  Colonial  Corps  had  received  orders  to  carry  out 
extensive  raids  to  attract  and  fix  the  attention  of  the  enemy  as 

176 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

follows:  "General  Orders  No.  20,  September  20,  1918,  of  the 
General  commanding  the  First  United  States  Army.  The 
Second  Colonial  Corps  will  hold  the  front  of  Bois  le  Chauffour, 
inclusive,  to  Mesnil,  exclusive.  The  Second  Colonial  Corps 
will  make  a  demonstration  along  its  front,  launching  artillery 
bombardment  as  well  as  making  extensive  raids  at  H  hour." 

The  dimension  and  duration  of  the  raid  executed  by  the 
Twenty-sixth  United  States  Division  certainly  deceived  the 
enemy  as  to  our  intentions;  the  losses  suffered  by  the^  troops 
taking  part  in  this  operation  were  fairly  severe,  but  there  is  no 
doubt  that  those  suffered  by  the  Germans  were  much  more 
serious. 

The  spirit  of  sacrifice  and  magnificent  courage  displayed  by 
the  troops  of  the  Twenty-sixth  United  States  Division  on  this 
occasion  were  certainly  not  in  vain.  They  seem  to  me  worthy 
of  recompense  and  praise.  Therefore  I  directed  the  General 
commanding  the  division  to  address  propositions  to  me  on  this 
subject. 

I  urgently  request  that  the  1st  Battalion  of  the  102d  In- 
fantry be  cited  in  Army  Orders  on  the  following  grounds :  — 

Picked  troops  who,  trained  by  Colonel  Hiram  J.  Bearss,  who  led 
the  attack  in  the  first  line,  carried  out  brilliantly  and  with  splendid 
energy  a  particularly  delicate  operation;  engaged  battle  with  a  superb 
dash;  won  a  victory  after  a  violent  combat  over  an  enemy  who  was 
both  stubborn  and  superior  in  numbers,  entrenched  in  concrete  shelters, 
strongly  supported  by  numerous  machine  guns  and  powerful  artillery, 
and  who  made  use  of,  in  the  course  of  the  action,  infamous  methods 
of  warfare;  heroically  carried  out  their  mission  in  capturing  in  heavy 
fighting  a  village  where  they  maintained  themselves  all  day  in  spite 
of  four  enemy  counter  attacks,  and  thus  furnished  the  finest  example 
of  courage,  abnegation  and  self-sacrifice. 

» 
I  request  further  that  the  officers  and  men  mentioned  in 
General  Edwards'  report  receive  each  and  severally  the  rewards 
suggested  for  them  by  name. 

Blondlat. 

177 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Headquarters,  Second  Colonial  Army  Corps  Staff, 
October  7,  1918. 

No.  29431A. 

At  this  time,  when  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  is  leaving  the 
zone  of  the  Second  Colonial  Army  Corps,  I  wish  to  forward  to 
General  Edwards  and  to  his  gallant  division  the  expression  of 
my  complete  satisfaction,  my  best  wishes  for  its  successes  to 
come,  and  my  hearty  thanks  for  the  brilliant  services  in  the 
attack  on  the  St.  Mihiel  salient. 

Although  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  was  only  under  my 
orders  for  a  short  time,  I  discovered  on  the  part  of  all,  both 
officers  and  men,  those  qualities  of  discipline,  ardor  and  esprit 
de  corps  which  characterize  picked  troops. 

I  thought  it  but  my  duty  to  call  to  the  attention  of  the 
French  high  command  the  fine  conduct  under  fire  of  your  men 
in  the  glorious  battle  of  September  26 ;  they  demonstrated  once 
again  their  high  qualities  of  energy  and  spirit  of  sacrifice.  I 
have  requested  that  citations  be  bestowed  upon  the  brave  men 
whose  conduct  has  been  especially  reported  to  me. 

Blondlat. 

The  Distinguished  Service  Cross  and  the  Bronze  Oak 
Leaf  *'for  extraordinary  heroism  in  action"  were  awarded 
Colonel  Bearss,  Lieutenant  Colonel  (formerly  Major) 
Lewis  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Howard  for  the  part  they 
took  in  the  attack  on  Marcheville  and  Riaville.  In  an- 
nouncing the  awards  the  commanding  general  issued  the 
following:  — 

Colonel  Hiram  I.  Bearss,  102d  Infantry,  for  extraordinary 
heroism  in  action  at  Marcheville  and  Riaville,  France,  Sep- 
tember 26,  1918. 

Colonel  Bearss's  indomitable  courage  and  leadership  led  to 
the  complete  success  of  the  attack  by  two  battalions  of  his 
regiment  on  Marcheville  and  Riaville.  During  the  attack  these 
two  towns  changed  hands  four  times,  finally  remaining  in  our 
possession  until  the  troops  were  ordered  to  withdraw.  Under 
terrific  machine-gun  and  artillery  fire  Colonel  Bearss  was  the 

178 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

first  to  enter  Marcheville,  where  he  directed  operations.  Later, 
upon  finding  his  party  completely  surrounded,  he  personally 
assisted  in  fighting  the  enemy  off  with  pistol  and  hand  grenades. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Evan  E.  Lewis,  102d  Infantry,  for  extraor- 
dinary heroism  in  action  near  Marcheville,  France,  September 
26,  1918. 

Being  second  in  command  of  the  assaulting  troops.  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Lewis  displayed  great  bravery  and  rare  initiative. 
While  under  terrific  artillery  and  machine-gun  fire  he  reor- 
ganized scattered  units,  established  and  organized  positions  in 
depth,  set  up  haison  from  front  to  rear,  and  in  hand-to-hand 
fighting  personally  led  his  men,  inspiring  in  them  a  confidence 
and  tenacity  of  purpose  that  v>^ere  productive  of  success. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  James  L.  Howard,  division  machine  gun 
officer.  Twenty-sixth  Division,  for  extraordinary  heroism  in 
action  at  Marcheville,  France,  September  26,  1918. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Howard  directed  the  machine-gun  at- 
tack in  person.  Entering  Marcheville  ahead  of  the  troops,  he 
rendered  great  assistance  while  the  town  changed  hands  four 
times.  A\Tien  he  was  in  a  small  party,  cut  off  and  surrounded 
by  the  enemy  and  under  fire  from  every  direction,  by  his  cool- 
ness and  resourcefulness  he  assisted  materially  in  aiding  the 
party  to  withdraw.  He  effectively  organized  machine-gun 
defences  when  the  enemy  was  endeavoring  to  drive  our  troops 
from  the  town.  During  the  entire  day  he  was  under  intense 
artillery  bombardment,  machine-gun  and  rifle  fire,  and  in 
hand-to-hand  conflict  with  the  enemy. 

Thirty-two  other  officers  and  men  were  awarded  the 
same  decorations  at  this  time  for  the  part  which  they 
had  played  in  various  engagements.  These  included 
Captain  Robert  Blood,  Medical  Corps,  103d  Infantry; 
Captain  Charles  W.  Comfort,  Medical  Corps,  102d  In- 
fantry; First  Lieutenant  Henry  Christiansen,  Medical 
Corps,  101st  Ambulance  Company;  and  First  Lieutenant 
Joseph  H.  Dunn,  ambulance  section,  101st  Sanitary  Train. 

179 


CHAPTER  XXII 
Transferred  to  Verdun 

Following  the  successful  diversion  in  the  Woevre,  the 
Yankees  were  pulled  out  and  transported  up  to  the  famous 
citadel  at  Verdun,  where  they  became  the  army  reserve. 
On  October  16  three  companies  of  the  104th  Infantry 
went  into  line.  They  marched  24  kilometers  with  noth- 
ing to  eat,  and  then,  assisted  by  fifteen  French  tanks, 
fought  until  morning.  Fourteen  tanks  were  lost  in  this 
engagement,  and  the  New  Englanders  had  about  250 
casualties.  That  afternoon  they  again  attacked  and 
gained  all  their  objectives. 

As  a  result  of  this  action.  General  Andlauer,  the  French 
commander,  sent  the  following  commendation :  — 

Third  Bureau,  October  17,  1918. 

From:  General  Andlauer,  Commanding  the  Eighteenth  Divi- 
sion of  Infantry. 
To:       The  Commanding  General,  Twenty-sixth  Division. 

General:  —  At  the  moment  that  the  Eighteenth  Division 
of  Infantry  is  relieved  in  its  sector  by  the  Twenty-sixth  Division 
of  Infantry,  United  States,  I  wish  to  send  you  my  heartiest 
thanks  for  the  support  given  to  its  comrades  of  the  77th  Regi- 
ment by  the  104th  Infantry,  which  since  its  arrival  in  the  sector, 
attacked  with  tanks  and  succeeded,  thanks  to  a  stubborn  in- 
fantry battle,  in  forcing  the  evacuation  of  half  of  the  edge  of 
the  Bois  d'Haumont  by  the  enemy. 

Andlauer. 

The  attack  in  question  was  of  comparatively  small 
moment  in  the  general  scheme  of  things,  but  for  those 

180 


Bachrach 


Lieutenant-Colonel  Joseph  W.  Beacham,  Jr. 


Internationul  Film  Service,  Jiic. 

General    Pershing,    General    Edwards    and    Brigadier-General    Cole 
reviewing  Troops  at  the  Front,  France 


IntiTiiatioiial  Film^^Scrvice,  Inc. 

German  Signal  Station,  captured  by  Twenty-sixth  Division  at  Bois 
des  Tetes,  Ferine,  France,  September  13,  1918 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

who  participated  it  was  one  of  the  hottest  engagements 
they  had  seen.  The  troops  gained  their  objective,  but 
were  unable  to  hold  it,  owing  to  the  intensity  of  the  fire 
from  the  enemy.  The  ground  was  extremely  muddy,  and 
the  tanks  went  out  of  action  either  by  sliding  into  shell 
holes  or  capsizing. 

There  were  numerous  instances  of  personal  bravery. 
Lieutenant  W.  M.  Leonard  with  his  men  held  their  place 
for  an  hour  and  a  half.  Lieutenant  Walter  A.  Tisdell, 
who  was  alongside,  joined  Lieutenant  Leonard,  and  with 
two  squads  of  men  the  young  officers  crawled  through 
the  devastated  area  that  had  once  been  a  wood  to  find 
and  rescue  wounded.  Lieutenant  D wight  T.  Colby  also 
gained  his  objective  when  the  tanks  gave  out,  and  he  also 
returned  with  his  wounded  at  the  close  of  the  day.  Cor- 
poral John  LaFleau  was  in  a  platoon  which  was  sur- 
rounded by  the  enemy  and  which  shot  its  way  out;  the 
corporal,  however,  was  captured.  Sergeant  Benjamin 
Shapiro  captured  a  machine  gun  single  handed.  Only 
one  of  the  crew  got  away. 

Charles  R.  Reville,  a  stretcher  bearer,  carrying  in  a 
wounded  man  with  a  companion,  felt  the  other  end  of 
the  stretcher  sag.  He  looked  around  and  found  that  his 
comrade  had  been  hit.  Reville  managed  to  drag  the  man 
on  the  stretcher  into  a  dressing  station,  and  then  went 
back  five  times,  bringing  in  a  wounded  soldier  each  time. 

Another  typical  incident  illustrating  the  spirit  of  the 
division  occurred  during  this  tank  attack.  A  company 
of  the  104th  Infantry  was  lying  in  reserve  near  a  dressing 
station.  The  wounded  were  coming  in  faster  than  the 
stretcher  bearers  could  transport  them  to  the  ambulance 
post  two  kilometers  below.  The  "doughboys"  were 
asked  for  volunteer  stretcher  bearers,  and  the  whole 
company  responded.     They  were  immediately  accepted, 

181 


THE   YANKEE  DIVISION 

and  for  the  rest  of  the  day  passed  back  and  forth  over  a 
shell-swept  road,  carrying  wounded,  although  they  knew 
that  it  would  be  necessary  for  them  to  go  back  into  the 
line  shortly. 

The  next  day  the  division  came  up,  and  relieved  the 
Eighteenth  French  Division.  The  101st  Infantry  was 
given  the  left  end  of  the  line,  on  the  crest  of  a  hill.  Next 
to  the  right  was  the  102d,  with  the  103d  on  another  hill 
and  the  104th  in  reserve.  This  sector  was  under  severe 
and  constant  shelling,  which  made  it  extremely  difficult 
to  get  up  supplies  and  ammunition.  Even  the  back  areas 
were  sprayed  by  shells  each  day,  and  the  German  guns 
were  registered  on  crossroads  and  traffic  thoroughfares. 

However,  the  Fifty-first  Artillery  Brigade  was  heavily 
reinforced,  even  naval  14-inch  railway  guns  coming  up 
on  the  far  side  of  the  Meuse.  These  guns  constantly 
replied  to  the  German  bombardment,  and  the  resultant 
din  was  terrific. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  the  division  received  its  greatest 
blow,  and  one  from  which  it  never  fully  recovered.  On 
October  22,  while  General  Edwards  was  organizing  an 
attack  to  start  the  next  morning,  he  received  orders  re- 
lieving him  from  his  beloved  command.  The  men  of  the 
division  were  stunned.  General  Edwards  had  just  taken 
over  a  sector  on  the  worst  point  of  the  whole  line;  for 
three  days  he  had  suffered  the  most  intense  grief  over 
the  death  of  his  only  daughter  Bessie,  who  fell  a  victim 
to  pneumonia  while  working  in  a  cantonment  hospital 
in  the  United  States;  and  his  personal  aide,  "Nat" 
Simpkins,  was  also  at  death's  door  from  the  same  disease. 

The  order  relieving  the  General  stated  that  he  was  to 
be  detached  from  the  division  and  the  American  Ex- 
peditionary Forces,  and  return  home  to  train  a  new 
division. 

182 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

For  days  he  had  been  laboring  under  a  tremendous 
responsibility,  submerging  his  own  troubles  under  a 
mass  of  details  which  customarily  were  handled  by  his 
aides.  Captain  Hyatt  had  been  promoted  to  major  and 
sent  to  the  Staff  College.  Then  Captain  Simpkins  was 
taken  sick  and  on  October  12  was  evacuated  to  the  field 
hospital.  At  the  same  time  Brigadier-General  Shelton 
was  also  evacuated,  suffering  from  Spanish  influenza, 
and  Colonel  Bearss  replaced  him.  Lieutenant  XHolonel 
E.  E.  Lewis,  who  had  just  been  promoted,  succeeded 
Colonel  Bearss  in  the  command  of  the  Connecticut  regi- 
ment. 

The  story  of  how  he  received  the  news  of  the  death 
of  his  only  child  at  Camp  Meade  was  told  by  General 
Edwards  in  the  following  words :  — 

I  was  up  in  the  trenches  when  some  one  approached  me. 
"  WTiat  is  the  worst  news  you  could  receive?  "  he  asked.  "  Mad- 
ame?" I  asked,  in  return  [that  being  the  manner  in  which  the 
General  refers  to  his  wife].  He  shook  his  head  and  said  that 
wasn't  it.  Then  I  knew  it  must  be  Bessie.  He  gave  me  a 
clipping.    I  was  worrying  about  Captain  Simpkins  at  the  time. 

The  night  was  a  terrible  one.  The  roads  were  almost  im- 
passable and  were  raked  by  shell  fire.  The  nearest  cable  oflSce 
was  about  14  miles  away.  I  spoke  to  some  of  the  motorcycle 
despatch  riders.  I  told  them  I  must  send  a  cable.  Every  man 
volunteered.  One  of  them  then  rode  through  with  the  cable 
for  Madame. 


The  gloom  caused  by  this  latest  bereavement  is  best 
reflected  in  a  letter  which  the  Rev.  M.  J.  O'Connor  of 
Roxbury,  senior  chaplain  of  the  division,  and  formerly 
chaplain  of  the  101st  Infantry,  sent  to  General  Ed- 
wards :  — 

183 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Heajjquarters  Twenty-sixth  Division, 
American  Expeditionary  Forces,  October  17,  1918. 

My  Dear  General  Edwards:  —  I  know  how  futile  are 
words  to  assuage  the  grief  that  has  come  to  you  in  the  loss  of 
your  only  daughter.  I  know  how  dear  she  was  to  you,  and  her 
loss  by  death  at  a  time  when  you  are  far  from  home  and  so 
deeply  interested  in  the  destinies  of  the  men  under  your  com- 
mand will  draw  from  you  all  the  virility  of  your  manhood  to 
sustain  the  blow. 

I  realize  that  a  heart  like  yours  which  has  caused  you  to 
show  so  much  sympathy  for  afflicted  parents  and  wounded 
soldiers  must  feel  deeply  the  grief  that  has  come  to  you.  Were 
it  possible  for  the  officers  and  the  men  under  your  command  to 
lighten  this  burden,  every  man  of  them  would  feel  it  an  honor 
if  his  life  could  restore  hers  to  you. 

But  we  are  powerless;  yet  if  there  be  consolation  in  knowing 
that  there  are  thirty  thousand  hearts  which  desire  to  lessen  your 
sorrow,  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  grieves  with  you. 

May  God,  who  has  placed  this  burden  on  you  and  your  good 
wife,  give  both  of  you  the  strength  to  accept  it  with  Christian 
fortitude. 

Sincerely  yours, 

M.  J.  O'Connor, 

Chaplain. 

In  that  letter  Chaplain  O'Connor  expressed  the  senti- 
ments of  every  man  in  the  division.  General  Edwards 
replied  thus :  — 

Headquarters  Twenty-sixth  Division, 
American  Expeditionary  Forces,  October  25,  1918. 

My  Dear  Chaplain  O'Connor:  —  Your  note  will  be  treas- 
ured by  my  poor  wife.  It  is  beautifully  like  you,  and  I  appreci- 
ate it  very  much. 

I  got  an  official  cablegram  from  the  War  Department  about 
Army  Nurse  Bessie  Edwards,  quoting  a  message  from  Mrs. 
Edwards,  the  first  I  had  received,  that  she  had  cabled  me  three 

184 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

times,  that  she  was  wath  our  daughter  to  the  last,  that  she  died 
happy,  and  that  Bessie  had  sworn  in  as  a  nurse  with  a  chance 
to  come  to  France. 

I  did  not  beheve  that  God's  inscrutable  ways  would  demand 
a  daughter  for  the  cause,  and  a  second  but  more  successful  sac- 
rifice than  the  other  member  of  the  family.  However,  it  has 
come,  and  it  must  be  borne,  together  with  this  last  separation. 

Just  say  to  the  individuals  of  this  Yankee  Division  as  you  see 
them  that  my  one  wish  is  that  they  should  carry  onjunder  the 
new  commander  and  continue  in  their  glorious  record.  That  is 
the  thing  that  is  on  our  conscience  that  nobody  can  deprive 
us  of,  and  their  loyal  devotion  and  success  are  a  great  com- 
pensation and  a  great  comfort  to  me. 

I  will  see  you  before  I  go. 

Faithfully  yours, 

C.  R.  Edwards. 

On  the  morning  of  October  12  word  came  from  the 
hospital  that  Captain  Simpkins  was  very  low  and  could 
not  recover.  The  Spanish  influenza,  from  which  he  first 
suffered,  was  complicated  with  nephritis,  and  pneumonia 
set  in.  Word  was  sent  to  his  two  brothers,  Captain  John 
Simpkins  of  an  artillery  outfit,  and  Lieutenant  William 
Simpkins,  aide  to  General  Shelton. 

Captain  John  Simpkins  managed  to  reach  the  hospital 
shortly  before  noon,  and  found  his  brother  conscious. 
A  short  time  later  the  stricken  oflScer  lapsed  into  a  coma 
and  died. 

In  the  meantime  a  press  of  business  kept  General 
Edwards  at  his  headquarters  at  Bras.  WTien  he  did 
manage  to  get  away  and  rush  to  the  hospital  in  a  motor, 
he  arrived  too  late.     His  aide  was  gone. 

The  young  man's  death  was  a  tremendous  shock  to 
the  General.  They  had  been  almost  inseparable,  and 
occupied  more  the  position  of  father  and  son  than  superior 

185 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

officer  and  subordinate.  From  the  time  the  New  England 
division  entered  the  Chemin  des  Dames  until  he  became 
ill,  Captain  Simpkins  was  constantly  with  the  General, 
and  did  what  he  could  to  protect  him.  General  Ed- 
wards' custom  of  exposing  himself  on  the  front  was  a 
source  of  tribulation  to  his  young  aide,  who  vainly  begged 
him  to  be  more  careful. 

Captain  Simpkins  seemed  to  possess  the  faculty  of 
knowing  what  the  General  was  going  to  say  before  he 
said  it,  and  anticipating  his  wishes.  After  the  departure 
of  Captain  Hyatt,  all  the  details  of  General  Edwards' 
business  at  headquarters  fell  on  him,  in  addition  to  his 
other  duties. 

Before  visiting  the  hospital  General  Edwards  sum- 
moned his  commanding  officers  to  headquarters  to  bid 
them  good-by.  They  came,  hardened  fighters,  who  had 
participated  in  all  the  famous  battles  of  the  division, 
and  General  Edwards  was  the  only  cheerful  appearing 
man  of  the  lot.  Bravely  and  skilfully  hiding  his  sorrows 
and  disappointments,  the  sturdy  old  soldier  broke  the 
news.  In  a  few  simple  words  he  told  them  what  they 
and  the  division  had  come  to  mean  to  him,  and  declared 
that  he  would  never  forget  them.  He  said  that  he  had 
received  permission  to  remain  with  the  organization 
until  the  arrival  of  his  successor,  Brigadier-General 
Bamford,  for  whom  he  bespoke  the  same  loyalty  and 
devotion. 

At  the  conclusion  of  that  conference,  hardened,  war- 
worn officers,  who  had  been  through  all  the  hell  that  the 
enemy  had  to  offer  without  a  sign,  came  out  with  tears 
openly  streaming  down  their  faces.  The  most  intense 
gloom  settled  down  over  the  division  as  soon  as  the  news 
became  generally  known. 

For  about  nine  months,  with  General  Edwards  to  lead 

186 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

them,  the  New  Englanders  had  gone  through  the  most 
strenuous  experiences  with  only  a  few  days  of  rest.  Un- 
deterred by  fatigue,  sickness,  shortage  of  suppHes  or 
any  of  the  fiendish  methods  employed  by  their  resource- 
ful enemy,  they  had  piled  up  a  record  which  vied  with 
that  of  the  elite  troops  of  the  French  Army.  They  had 
been  complimented  and  cited  and  decorated  time  and 
time  again.  They  had  been  hailed  as  shock  troops  and 
"Saviors  of  Paris,"  and  their  fame  was  known  through- 
out the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.  And  all  their 
glory  they  attributed  to  the  leadership  of  Clarence  R. 
Edwards.  He  it  was  who  stimulated  them  with  his  own 
indomitable  spirit,  and  caused  them  to  go  forward  when 
it  seemed  that  human  nature  could  do  no  more.  It  was 
he  whose  unflagging  optimism  and  cheery  words  lifted 
them  up,  superior  to  privations  and  hardships.  It  was 
their  General  who  watched  over  them,  cared  for  them, 
and  saw  to  it  that  their  lives  were  not  unnecessarily 
sacrificed. 

Nevertheless,  it  was  necessary  to  "carry  on,"  and  the 
New  Englanders  carried  on.  On  the  night  of  October  22 
Colonel  Bearss  sent  out  an  order  announcing  that  the 
attack  on  the  following  morning  would  probably  be  the 
last  fight  the  men  would  have  an  opportunity  to  make 
under  their  beloved  commanding  officer.  He  urged  every 
man  who  was  to  take  part  to  make  the  engagement  a 
fitting  climax  to  the  brilliant  record  of  General  Edwards. 

In  Colonel  Bearss 's  original  order,  which  was  issued 
somewhat  earlier,  tlie  last  paragraph  read :  — 

Every  officer,  non-commissioned  officer  and  man,  is  de- 
pended upon  to  uphold  the  glorious  traditions  of  the  Twenty- 
sixth  Division.  All  hell's  flying  artillery  cannot  stop  this  bri- 
gade when  it  has  once  gone  into  action. 

187 


THE   YANKEE  DIVISION 

On  the  following  morning  the  attack  began  on  the  Bois 
d'Haumont,  the  Bois  des  Chenes  and  the  Bois  d'Ormont, 
with  Hill  360  at  its  eastern  edge.  All  the  objectives  were 
gained  except  Hill  360.  It  was  here  that  Colonel  Logan 
and  Major  Greenway  of  the  Engineers  personally  urged 
their  men  forward.  It  was  also  in  this  fight  that  Major 
Hickey's  battalion  came  to  grief  in  the  Bois  Belleau,  when 
his  rockets  were  not  seen  by  two  other  battalions  which 
were  to  join  in  the  advance. 

The  oflficial  notes  on  the  operations  of  the  division  at 
this  time  said :  — 

The  first  day  of  the  present  effort  to  obtain  possession  of 
the  commanding  heights  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  region 
between  Bois  de  Consenvoye  and  Flabas  ended  to  our  ad- 
vantage. At  19.15  o'clock  of  October  23  it  was  announced  that 
the  division  had  reached  its  normal  and  exploitation  objectives 
(the  latter  being  the  Bois  Belleau).  The  work  of  consolidating 
the  new  positions  and  rectifying  the  line  was  ordered  to  be 
begun  at  once,  so  as  to  insure  us  the  possession  of  the  Bois 
Belleau,  Bois  des  Chenes  and  the  ground  between,  while  patrols 
were  directed  to  maintain  close  contact  with  the  enemy  in  the 
Bois  d'Ormont. 

But  the  Germans  came  back  strongly  and  at  once.  Under 
the  pressure  of  a  heavy  counter  attack,  supported  by  an  in- 
tense flanking  artillery  fire,  the  battalion  of  the  101st  Infantry 
which  had  gone  through  Bois  Belleau  was  forced  to  relinquish 
its  gains,  so  that  morning  (October  24)  found  that  part  of  our 
newly  won  ground  still  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  —  an  enemy 
who,  as  was  learned  from  prisoners  and  deserters,  had  just  been 
reinforced  and  partially  relieved  by  fresh  troops  of  the  one 
Hundred  and  Ninety-second  Division,  —  a  class  one  organiza- 
tion. 

Our  attack  was,  however,  promptly  renewed.  Supported 
most  efficiently  by  the  preparation,  encaging,  and  smoke  screen 
concentrations  of  the  divisional  and   corps  artillery,  and  by 

188 


Lieutenant-Colonel  P.  W.  Arnold 


International  Film  Service,  Inc. 
Rushing  Supplies  to  the  Front,  Mouilly,  Prance,  September  14,  1918 


International  Film  Service,  Inc. 
Members  of   101st  Engineers  filling  in   Shell  Holes  near   St.   Remy, 
Meuse,  France,  September  16,  1918 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

the  machine  gun  battahons,  the  2d  BattaHon,  101st  Infantry, 
advanced  against  Bois  Belleau  at  15  o'clock  October  24,  while 
the  102d  Infantry  (less  1st  Battalion)  attacked  a  line  in  which 
the  principal  objective  was  Hill  360,  starting  at  16.30.  Once 
more  a  violent  resistance  was  encountered.  By  the  most  varied 
means,  ranging  from  machine-gun  nests  hidden  in  trees  and 
the  work  of  skillful  snipers  to  bombardment  by  minenwerfers 
regulated  by  aeroplane  observation,  the  enemy  contested  every 
inch  of  our  advance.  This  was  pushed  steadily,  nevertheless, 
until  darkness  made  a  halt  and  a  new  consolidation  necessary. 
We  had  penetrated  Bois  Belleau  to  a  depth  of  500  meters,  and, 
further  to  the  south,  had  advanced  to  the  lower  slopes  of  Hill 
360.  Night  brought  a  new  enemy  reaction.  Against  the 
heavily  tried  battalion  of  the  101st  no  less  than  four  furious 
counter  attacks  were  directed  in  quick  succession.  Three  were 
resisted  successfully,  but  the  fourth  pushed  our  troops  back 
again  beyond  the  western  edge  of  the  Bois  Belleau,  only  to  have 
them  re-form  and  return  to  the  attack  at  2.30  o'clock.  This 
time  they  succeeded  in  establishing  a  line  well  in  advance  of 
their  original  parallel  of  departure,  while  the  3d  Battalion, 
101st  Infantry,  moved  up  and  extended  the  new  line  westerly. 
Two  companies  of  the  brigade  reserve  (1st  Battalion,  101st 
Infantry)  were  sent  in  to  support  the  2d,  which  had  suffered 
considerably.  At  11.30  o'clock  (October  25),  following  a  violent 
interdiction  and  destructive  fire  by  our  artillery,  the  2d  and  3d 
battalions  of  the  102d  Infantry  took  up  their  advance  once 
more  against  Hill  360,  while  the  101st  (less  one  battalion) 
moved  again  to  penetrate  and  exploit  the  Bois  Belleau.  Despite 
the  determined  character  of  the  attack,  the  enemy's  resistance 
was  not  overcome,  and  our  line  at  noon  of  October  26  remains 
practically  where  it  was  established  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
initial  attack  on  October  23.  The  advance  will  be  renewed 
October  27. 

Losses  have  not  exceeded  the  normal,  considering  the  in- 
tensity of  the  fighting  and  the  strength  of  the  enemy's  resist- 
ance. What  is  noticeable  is  the  unflagging  spirit  and  deter- 
mination of  the  troops,  the  tirelessness  of  the  artillery,  and  the 

189 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

prompt  and  liberal  assistance  and  co-operation  we  have  re- 
ceived from  the  resources  of  the  corps.  The  task  is  recognized 
as  exceedingly  difficult  by  all  competent  critics,  but  there  is 
every  expectation  that  it  will  be  successfully  accomplished. 

The  fighting  continued  for  five  days  and  nights,  through 
underbrush  and  stumps  that  was  old  fighting  ground.  On  every 
hand  were  skeletons  of  French  and  German  dead,  which  had 
lain  there  unburied  for  several  years.  The  artillery  concentra- 
tion was  terrific,  and  frequently  caused  the  New  Englanders  to 
relinquish  their  gains,  only  to  counter  attack  and  retake  them. 
The  101st  Infantry  fought  back  and  forth  across  one  strip  of 
territory  at  least  four  times.  On  October  27  the  objectives 
were  gained,  and  the  fighting  died  down,  to  remain  quiet  until 
after  the  1st  of  November. 

In  the  meantime,  on  October  24,  General  Edwards 
issued  his  famous  good-by  order  to  his  division.    It  read :  — 

1.  In  compliance  with  paragraph  48,  Special  Orders  No. 
293,  General  Headquarters,  American  Expeditionary  Forces, 
the  undersigned  relinquishes  command  of  the  Twenty-sixth 
Division. 

2.  He  thanks  the  division  for  its  loyalty  to  him  and  for  what 
it  has  accomplished  in  the  common  cause.  He  bespeaks  for  his 
successor  in  command  the  same  loyalty  and  devotion,  and  he 
leaves  the  division  in  full  confidence  that  its  same  fine  work 
will  continue  to  the  end. 

C.  R.  Edwards, 
Major-General,  Commanding. 

At  the  same  time  he  issued  a  farewell  commendation 
order  to  the  Fifty -first  Artillery  Brigade,  saying:  — 

1.  To  the  artillery  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  is  due  my 
expression  of  admiration  for  its  efficiency  and  aggressive  fight- 
ing qualities,  and  for  its  indefatigable  support  of  our  fine 
infantry.     Artillery   can   desire   no   higher   tribute   than   the 

J90 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 

conscious  fact  that  it  has  gained  the  confidence,  rehance  and 
thanks  of  the  infantry. 

2.  During  more  than  eight  months  of  fighting  service  the 
spirit  of  loyalty  displayed  by  every  officer  and  man  of  the  Fifty- 
first  Artillery  Brigade  toward  his  duty,  toward  the  Yankee  Di- 
vision and  toward  the  division  Commander  has  been  fine. 

3.  The  record  of  the  Fifty-first  Artillery  Brigade  in  the 
second  battle  of  the  Marne  is  glorious.  It  went  with,  sup- 
ported and  protected  the  infantry  in  its  advance  of  183^^  kilo- 
meters by  Chateau-Thierry,  and  afterwards,  in  succession,  two 
other  divisions  in  the  advance  from  the  Marne  to  the  Vesle 
for  a  period  of  eighteen  days,  between  July  18  and  August  4, 
with  a  gain  of  over  40  kilometers.  It  is  a  record  of  which  the 
entire  division  and  our  country  justly  may  be  proud. 

I  congratulate  and  thank  the  artillery  brigade  of  the  Yankee 
Division. 

C.  R.  Edwards, 
Major-General,  Commanding. 


191 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

Praised  for  Action  at  Hattonchatel 

On  October  23  General  Edwards  issued  a  citation  of 
his  troops  for  their  work  in  the  operations  at  Hatton- 
chatel. This  citation,  which  was  issued  in  General 
Orders,  read :  — 

1.  The  division  Commander  extends  to  the  commanding 
officer,  Fifty-first  Infantry  Brigade,  and  the  officers  and  men 
of  the  following  organizations,  his  hearty  congratulations  on 
their  great  success  in  the  operations  of  this  date  for  the  capture 
of  the  heights  of  the  Meuse  in  the  region  of  Le  Houppy  Bois  and 
Belleau  Bois:  Fifty-first  Infantry  Brigade;  101st  Infantry;  102d 
Infantry;  101st  Machine  Gun  Battalion;  102d  Machine  Gun 
Battalion;  Detachment,  101st  Field  Signal  Battalion;  De- 
tachment, 101st  Sanitary  Train;  281st  Aero  Squadron  (French) ; 
Balloon  No.  25  (French);  Fifty -first  Artillery  Brigade;  and 
1st  Battalion,  211th  Field  Artillery  (French). 

2.  The  attack  as  planned  was  difficult  of  execution,  and 
only  to  be  attempted  by  trained  troops.  You  carried  it  out 
like  the  veterans  you  are,  and  with  a  dash  and  valor  worthy 
of  the  best  traditions  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division. 

C.  R.  Edwards, 
Major-General,  Commanding. 

In  connection  with  the  same  operations  the  following 
tribute  was  paid  by  the  French  corps  commander:  — 

Headquarters,  Seventeenth  Army  Corps  Staff,  1st  Bureau. 

October  24,  1918. 

From:  General  Claudel,  commanding  the  Seventeenth  Army 

Corps. 
To:       The  Commanding  General,  Twenty-sixth  Division. 

General:  —  The  reputation  of  your  division  preceded  it 
here  far  ahead. 

192 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

To  all  its  titles  of  glory  gained  in  fierce  struggles,  and  only 
recently  at  the  signal  of  Hattonchatel,  it  has  added  on  the  23d 
of  October  a  page  which  perhaps  is  more  modest,  but  still  does 
it  great  honor. 

In  a  few  hours,  as  at  a  maneuver,  it  has  gained  all  the  ob- 
jectives assigned  it  in  the  difficult  sector  of  the  Woods  of 
Houppy,  Etrayes  and  Belleau. 

This  operation  is  evidence,  indeed,  of  superior  instruction, 
mobility  and  will. 

I  do  not  know  how  to  thank  you  sufficiently  for  your  as- 
sistance, dear  General,  and  it  is  my  great  desire  to  express  to 
you  all  our  grateful  admiration  for  your  splendid  division 
which  thus  has  added  its  name  to  all  of  those  who  have  fought 
to  hurl  the  enemy  back  from  the  outskirts  of  Verdun. 


On  October  26  Brigadier-General  Bamford  arrived, 
and  General  Edwards  took  his  last  farewell.  He  had 
been  given  permission  to  take  with  him  one  aide,  and 
therefore  asked  for  and  obtained  Major  Hyatt,  who  had 
been  with  him  for  years.  His  aide  at  the  time  of  his 
departure  was  Lieutenant  Daniel  Willard  of  the  artillery, 
a  son  of  the  president  of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad. 

The  final  leavetaking  was  described  by  Dr.  Morton 
Prince  of  Boston  in  a  letter  to  Governor  McCall  of  Massa- 
chusetts.   He  said  in  part:  — 

The  American  soldier  from  every  part  of  the  Union,  as  all 
know,  has  won  his  place  as  a  fighting  man,  and  the  Yankee 
Division  has  earned  a  fame  that  can  never  be  taken  from  it. 
It  need  only  point  to  its  record  when  asked,  "How  have  you 
done?"  Although  the  boys  have  been  almost  continually 
fighting  for  nine  months,  with  scarcely  a  respite,  they  are  still 
full  of  grit.  The  morale  is  as  fine  as  ever,  and  the  Ssprit  de 
corps  and  pride  in  the  division  undiminished. 

I  mention  these  things  now  because  the  first  chapter  in  its 

193 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

war  history  is  completed,  the  division  having  just  bidden  good-by 
and  God-speed  to  its  beloved  Commander,  who  has  handed 
over  his  devoted  troops  to  another's  able  hands. 

His  great  work  in  the  field  is  finished  unless  the  war  con- 
tinues. He  trained  and  welded  into  a  fighting  unit  an  inex- 
perienced collection  of  27,000  men,  a  little  army  in  itself,  self- 
sustaining  in  that  it  comprised  every  branch  of  the  service,  — 
infantry,  artillery,  transport,  intelligence,  supplies,  medical 
corps,  etc.,  and  then  he  fought  with  them  and  led  them  to  vic- 
tory in  one  battlefield  after  another. 

No  wonder  his  soldiers  are  proud  of  their  Chief.  His  great 
talents  as  a  soldier,  testified  to  by  his  corps  and  army  com- 
manders, are  now  to  be  utilized  by  the  high  command  for  other 
important  service. 

I  arrived  at  divisional  P.  C.  (the  advanced  post  of  command 
during  battle)  just  as  the  Commanding  General  was  trans- 
ferring his  command  to  his  successor,  an  able  officer  of  experi- 
ence who  surely  will  lead  the  Yankee  Division  to  further  vic- 
tories. Headquarters  was  a  picturesque  group  of  dugouts 
arranged  in  two  rows  facing  one  another  along  an  alley  camou- 
flaged overhead  with  boughs  of  leaves  from  enemy  aeroplanes. 

In  the  Commanding  General's  dugout  were  high  officers  and 
members  of  his  staff,  while  in  the  alley  were  grouped  other  staff 
officers  and  headquarters  troops.  It  was  but  natural  and 
pardonable  that  depression  and  gloom  were  depicted  on  the 
faces  of  all,  and  that  they  should  speak  in  subdued  voices. 

Though  anxious  to  give  the  same  loyalty  to  their  new  com- 
mander,-they  could,  for  the  moment,  think  only  of  the  past. 
They  were  losing  their  chief  to  whom  they  owed  everything, 
and  whom  they  had  followed  during  nine  months  of  constant 
fighting. 

The  departing  General  was  the  only  cheery  one  of  the  lot. 
Wliatever  he  may  have  felt  when  leaving  the  soldiers  he  loved 
and  who  loved  him,  he  did  not  betray,  nor  did  he  give  the  least 
sign  of  his  private  sorrows,  for  sudden  news  had  just  brought 
grief  into  his  heart  in  the  death  of  two  that  were  very  near  to 
him,  —  his  own  daughter  and  an  aide  who  was  like  an  own  son. 

194 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 

This  we  all  knew.  But  private  grief  was  not  allowed  to  weigh 
with  duty.    He  was  a  soldier  through  and  through. 

A  few  routine  details  had  to  be  finished,  papers  had  to  be 
signed.  Then  came  the  presentation  of  his  staff  to  the  new 
commander,  with  a  generous  word  of  commendation  for  each; 
a  word  of  good-by  and  a  grasp  of  the  hand  with  one  another; 
the  same  with  a  kind  word  to  each  enlisted  man  at  headquarters; 
then  he  sprang  into  the  motor  car.  At  his  invitation,  I  was 
privileged  to  accompany  him,  and  with  a  wave  of  his  hand 
and  a  last  cheery  good-by  we  were  off,  leaving  sad  faces  be- 
hind us. 

The  next  day  after  a  night  at  the  main  working  headquarters 
a  final  good-by  was  said  by  the  remainder  of  the  staff,  and  as 
we  turned  back  from  where  the  departing  motor  left  us  we 
heard  the  explosion  of  a  great  14-inch  shell  that  dropped  its 
fragments  close  to  the  car  as  it  sped  away,  as  if  the  German 
in  a  last  vain  effort  sought  to  destroy  in  impotent  rage  the  man 
who  had  beaten  them  on  many  a  field,  and  there  came  to  us 
from  a  distance  the  cheers  of  the  soldiers  wishing  their  general 
Godspeed. 

There  is  not  a  soldier  or  officer  in  the  division  that  does  not 
take  the  General's  departure  as  a  personal  loss. 

Following  the  relief  of  General  Edwards  the  division 
sustained  another  shock  when  Colonel  Logan  was  relieved 
from  command  of  the  101st  Infantry.  With  this  famous 
Boston  outfit,  a  part  of  which  as  the  old  9th  IMassachusetts 
he  had  commanded  on  the  Mexican  Border,  Colonel 
Logan  had  taken  part  in  every  battle  fought  by  the 
division.  The  regiment  was  considered  one  of  the  best 
in  tlie  Yankee  Division,  and  Colonel  Logan  was  always 
actively  in  command  during  its  engagements.  He  was 
sent  to  the  reclassification  area  at  the  rear  and  there 
acted  as  counsel  for  oflScers  sent  to  Blois  or  Hendrecourt 
for  reclassification.    He  never  lost  a  case. 

A  week  after  Colonel  Logan's  det)arture  Colonel  Frank 

195 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

H.  Hume  of  the  lOSd  Infantry  was  also  summarily  re- 
moved from  command  and  sent  to  the  rear.  That  left 
only  Brigadier-General  Cole,  Colonel  Bunnell  of  the 
engineers  and  Colonel  W.  J.  Keville  of  the  ammunition 
train  as  the  only  commanding  officers  who  went  abroad 
with  the  division.  Major  Pendleton,  the  G-1  appointed 
by  General  Edwards,  who  had  the  task  of  looking  after 
supply  from  Neufchateau  to  Verdun,  was  also  relieved 
and  sent  home. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Cassius  M.  Dowell,  who  had  been 
the  G-3  or  operations  officer  of  the  Division,  was  given 
command  of  the  103d,  and  his  post  was  taken  by  Captain 
Emmons  H.  Taylor  of  Hartford,  who  had  been  Colonel 
Dowell's  assistant.  Colonel  Dowell  first  appeared  in  the 
division  as  chief  of  staff,  succeeding  Colonel  Shelton.  He 
was  replaced  by  Colonel  Duncan  K.  Major,  and  then 
sent  away  to  a  Staff  School. 

Colonel  Logan  was  replaced  by  Colonel  Horace  B. 
Hobbs,  who  had  been  division  inspector  for  a  few 
months. 

The  next  blow  sustained  by  the  New  Englanders  came 
on  November  8,  just  three  days  before  the  signing  of  the 
armistice,  and  was  a  crushing  one.  It  consisted  in  no 
less  than  the  removal  of  Brigadier-General  Charles  H. 
Cole  from  the  command  of  the  Fifty-second  Infantry 
Brigade,  which  he  had  held  from  the  time  of  its  organi- 
zation. Officers  and  men  alike  were  stunned.  They  won- 
dered where  the  lightning  would  strike  next.  Great  was 
the  astonishment,  not  to  say  a  stronger  feeling,  when  it 
was  learned  that  General  Cole  was  charged  with  lack  of 
"aggression"  and  permitting  his  troops  to  fraternize  with 
the  enemy. 

The  man  who  had  led  one  of  the  most  famous  brigades 
in  the  American  Expeditionary  Force,  a  brigade  contain- 

196 


Eichler  Studios 


Lieutenant-Colonel  Alfred  F.  Foote 


International  Film  Service,  Inc. 

General  Edwards  decorating  Sergeant  Joseph  W.  Casey,  Company  F, 
101st  Infantry,  Moulin  Brule,  France,  October  15,  1918 


International   I'ilni   .Ser\  icr,  inc. 

Members  of  103d  Field  Artillery  inspecting  6-inch  Gun  near 
Samogneux,  Meuse,  France,  October  19,  1918 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

ing  the  104th  Infantry,  the  first  American  regiment  to  be 
decorated  by  the  French,  was  not  considered  aggressive! 
It  was  also  pointed  out  that  General  Cole  had  issued 
orders  prohibiting  fraternization  before  such  orders  came 
down  from  the  high  command. 

General  Cole  was  relieved  by  an  order  from  Brigadier- 
General  Bamford,  who  had  been  in  command  of  the  divi- 
sion but  a  short  time,  and  knew  practically  nothing  con- 
cerning his  brigade  commanders  or  other  officers. 

"I  immediately  demanded  a  board  of  inciuiry,"  said 
General  Cole.  "They  never  called  it.  I  was  reinstated 
by  special  order  of  General  Pershing,  as  were  both  Colonel 
Logan  and  Colonel  Hume.  They  never  asked  me  to  sub- 
mit any  evidence  in  support  of  my  assertion  that  there 
was  no  foundation  for  the  charge  against  me.  And  they 
never  submitted  any  evidence  in  support  of  the  charge, 
although  the  burden  of  proof  was  on  them.  They  did  not 
have  anything  to  submit." 

The  other  regiment  in  General  Cole's  command,  the 
103d,  was  cited  by  both  the  French  and  the  American 
high  commands  for  valor  in  action,  and  has  a  record  for 
prisoners  captured  superior  to  any  unit  in  the  American 
forces  in  France. 

General  Cole's  report  to  General  Pershing  gave  a  de- 
tailed account  of  the  work  of  the  Fifty-second  Brigade, 
showing  that  it  had  earned  the  plaudits  of  the  French 
during  the  heaviest  fighting  of  the  war.  He  also  showed 
that  he  had  served  under  eight  division  commanders 
without  a  single  complaint. 

Within  a  short  time  official  vindication  and  reinstate- 
ment was  received  by  the  Massachusetts  oflScer  in  the 
following  order:  — 


197 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

France,  November  30,  1918. 

From:      Adjutant-General,  American  Expeditionary  Forces. 

To:  Brigadier-General   Charles  H.  Cole,  Center  of  Infor- 

mation, A.  P.  O.  714,  American  Expeditionary 
Forces. 

Subject:  Relief  from  Fifty-second  Infantry  Brigade. 

1.  I  am  directed  by  the  Commander-in-Chief  to  inform  you 
that  upon  his  personal  examination  of  the  papers  reporting  the 
facts  incident  to  your  relief  from  command  of  the  Fifty-second 
Brigade,  he  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  facts  did  not  warrant 
your  relief,  and  he  has  therefore  directed  that  you  be  reinstated 
to  your  former  brigade. 

2.  Accordingly,  orders  will  be  issued  in  the  near  future. 

By  command  of  General  Pershing, 

Robert  C.  Davis, 
Adjutant-General. 

The  reinstatement  of  Colonels  Logan  and  Hume  did 
not  come  until  February  4,  during  which  time  Colonel 
Logan  was  busily  engaged  at  Blois  acting  as  counsel  for 
other  officers  so  unfortunate  as  to  come  beneath  the  ban 
of  general  headquarters. 

This  last  battle  of  the  Argonne  was  part  of  a  gigantic 
offensive  planned  by  General  Foch,  which  broke  the  Ger- 
man line  in  several  places  and  forced  the  enemy  to  come 
to  terms.  Picked  American  divisions -u^ere  used  in  con- 
junction with  the  Allies,  and  the  Twenty-sixth  was  one 
of  ten  of  the  American  divisions  which  went  into  line 
twice  during  this  battle. 

Following  the  pinching  off  of  the  St.  Mihiel  salient, 
which  the  New  Englanders  were  instrumental  in  doing, 
the  stage  was  set  for  the  big  drive.  The  Yankee  Division 
held  the  right  of  the  American  line  in  what  was  known 
as  the  Neptune  sector.  They  were  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  Meuse,  with  the  other  American  outfits  on  the  left 

198 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

bank,  driving  towards  Sedan.  To  the  New  Englanders 
fell  the  lot  of  pushing  into  the  Argonne  Forest,  where 
Major  Whittlesey's  "Lost  Battalion"  gained  its  fame. 

The  Yanlcee  Division  at  this  time  was  in  the  Fifth 
Corps,  commanded  by  General  Charles  P.  Summerall, 
which  was  a  part  of  General  Hunter  Liggett's  First  Army. 
In  describing  operations  after  the  Twenty-sixth  entered 
the  battle.  General  Pershing  said :  — 

On  October  18  there  was  very  fierce  fighting  in  the  Caures 
Woods  east  of  the  Meuse,  and  in  the  Ormont  Wood.  On  the 
14th  the  First  Corps  took  St.  Juvin,  and  the  Fifth  Corps,  by 
hand-to-hand  encounters,  entered  the  formidable  Kriemhilde 
line,  where  the  enemy  had  hoped  to  check  us  indefinitely.  Later 
the  Fifth  Corps  penetrated  farther  the  Kriemhilde  line,  and  the 
First  Corps  took  Champigneulles  and  the  important  town  of 
Grand  Pre.  Our  dogged  offensive  was  wearing  down  the  enemy, 
who  continued  desperately  to  throw  his  best  troops  against  us, 
thus  weakening  his  line  in  front  of  our  Allies  and  making  their 
advance  less  difficult. 

On  the  23d,  the  Third  and  Fifth  Corps  pushed  northward  to 
the  left  of  Bantheville.  While  we  continued  to  press  forward 
and  throw  back  the  enemy's  violent  counter  attacks  with  great 
loss  to  him,  the  regrouping  of  our  forces  was  under  way  for  the 
final  assault.  Evidences  of  loss  of  morale  by  the  enemy  gave  our 
men  more  confidence  in  attack  and  more  fortitude  in  enduring 
the  fatigue  of  incessant  effort  and  hardships  of  very  inclement 
weather. 

With  comparatively  well-rested  divisions  the  final  advance 
in  the  Meuse-Argonne  front  was  begun  on  November  1.  Our 
increased  artillery  force  acquitted  itself  magnificently  in  support 
of  the  advance,  and  the  enemy,  by  its  persistent  fighting  of  the 
last  weeks  and  the  dash  of  this  attack,  had  overcome  his  wnll  to 
resist.  The  Third  Corps  took  Aincreville,  Doulon  and  Ande- 
vanne,  and  the  Fifth  Corps  took  Landres-et-St.  Georges,  and 
pressed  through  successive  lines  of  resistance  to  Bayonville  and 

199 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Chennery.  On  the  3d  the  First  Corps  joined  the  movement 
which  now  became  an  impetuous  onslaught  that  could  not  be 
stayed. 

On  the  3d  advance  troops  were  hurried  forward  in  pursuit, 
some  by  motor  trucks,  while  the  artillery  pressed  along  the 
country  roads  close  behind.  The  First  Corps  reached  Authe 
and  Chattillon-sur-Bar,  the  Fifth  Corps,  Fosse  and  Nouart, 
and  the  Third  Corps,  Halles,  penetrating  the  enemy's  line  to  a 
depth  of  12  miles.  Our  large  caliber  guns  had  advanced  and 
were  skillfully  brought  into  position  to  fire  upon  the  important 
railroad  lines  at  Montmedy,  Longuyon  and  Conflans.  Our 
Third  Corps  crossed  the  Meuse  on  the  5th,  and  the  other  corps, 
in  full  confidence  that  the  day  was  theirs,  eagerly  cleared  the 
way  of  machine  guns  as  they  swept  northward,  maintaining 
complete  co-ordination  throughout.  On  the  6th  a  division  of 
the  First  Corps  reached  a  point  on  the  Meuse  opposite  Sedan, 
25  miles  from  our  line  of  departure.  The  strategical  goal  which 
was  our  highest  hope  was  gained.  We  had  cut  the  enemy's  main 
line  of  communications,  and  nothing  but  surrender  or  an  armi- 
stice could  save  his  army  from  complete  disaster. 

In  all,  forty-four  enemy  divisions  had  been  used  against  us 
in  the  Meuse- Argonne  battle. 

One  incident  in  this  last  fight,  when  the  names  of  Bois 
d'Ormont  and  Bois  Belleau  were  added  to  the  rolls  of  the 
Twenty-sixth  Division,  was  related  by  General  Cole. 
Between  these  two  places  the  New  Englanders  sustained 
a  bombardment  exceeding  anything  which  they  had  ever 
undergone.  High  explosive  and  gas,  mingled  with  machine- 
gun  fire,  created  a  hell  in  which  they  fought  and  struggled 
on  for  days. 

On  October  13  [said  General  Cole]  General  Edwards  read  the 
newest  list  of  citations  to  the  men  of  the  104th  Infantry.  In- 
cluded in  this  list  was  the  name  of  Lieutenant  Chester  R. 
Howard.    The  citation  was  for  extraordinary  heroism  in  action 

200 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

at  Trugny  on  July  22.  Although  twice  wounded,  the  young 
officer  had  refused  to  be  evacuated,  and  continued  on  duty 
with  his  company  during  the  attack  and  capture  of  Trugny 
under  hea\y  fire,  until  he  was  incapacitated  by  a  third  wound. 
Lieutenant  Howard  disclaimed  this  citation,  declaring  it  must 
be  for  some  one  else.  Questioned  by  General  Edwards  it  was 
learned  he  had  performed  similar  feats  but  on  a  different  date. 
The  General  promised  to  investigate  the  matter. 

Howard  told  my  aide.  Captain  Leggat,  that  he  <^ould  not 
wear  a  medal  belonging  to  another  man,  and  asked  him  to 
keep  the  matter  before  me. 

The  following  day,  when  the  1st  Battalion  of  the  104th  was 
detailed  to  the  French,  Lieutenant  Howard  was  ordered  to 
take  twenty-nine  men  and  reach  the  town  of  Flabos.  Howard 
and  his  men  never  came  back. 

Until  November  9  it  was  impossible  to  reconnoiter  the  ground 
over  which  they  had  passed.  On  that  day,  however,  —  the 
day  on  which  I  was  relieved  from  command,  —  my  brigade 
went  forward,  taking  the  town  of  Flabos  and  passing  beyond 
its  objectives.  It  was  then  we  learned  what  had  become  of 
Lieutenant  Howard  and  his  platoon.  The  bodies  of  the  thirty 
men  were  discovered  in  skirmish  line  on  the  ground,  that  of  the 
lieutenant  slightly  ahead  of  the  others.  Apparently  they  had 
charged  a  machine-gun  strong  point,  and  had  been  wiped  out. 

We  also  found  out  later  that  Lieutenant  Howard  was  the 
right  man  named  in  the  citation. 

When  General  Cole  was  relieved,  Brigadier-General 
Shelton  was  transferred  to  the  Fifty-second  Brigade,  and 
Brigadier-General  L.  L.  Durfee  was  assigned  to  the  Fifty- 
first.  The  division  continued  to  carry  on,  although  the 
majority  of  their  old  officers  were  gone.  Daily  and  nightly 
they  harassed  the  enemy.  Many  were  the  heroic  feats 
performed,  and  many  were  the  Distinguished  Service 
Crosses  and  Croix  de  Guerre  awarded  as  a  result.  It  was 
shortly  before  this  time,  on  October  23-24,  to  be  exact, 

201 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

that  Captain  David  J.  Brickley  of  the  101st  Infantry 
won  the  Distinguished  Service  Cross  and  promotion  from 
first  'heutenant.  Brickley,  who  had  risen  from  the  ranks, 
was  decorated  for  "stubbornly  resisting  three  strong 
enemy  counter  attacks,  and  then,  without  aid,  going 
forward,  and  by  effective  machine-gun  fire,  driving  the 
enemy  from  and  capturing  a  strong  pill  box  which  had 
been  raising  havoc  in  our  ranks." 

Another  Distinguished  Service  Cross  man  was  Cap- 
tain Edward  Edmunds,  Jr.,  of  the  102d  Infantry.  On 
October  27  Edmunds,  then  a  first  lieutenant,  having 
received  an  order  from  division  headquarters  for  an  accu- 
rate report  of  the  strength  present  in  the  front  line, 
crawled  from  shell  hole  to  shell  hole  in  broad  daylight 
and  in  plain  view  of  the  enemy,  who  kept  him  under  con- 
tinuous sniping  fire  from  numerous  machine  guns.  Unde- 
terred, Edmunds  counted  every  man  in  the  front  line  of 
the  battalion  he  was  commanding,  and  then  returned  and 
made  his  report  to  the  regim.ental  commander. 

First  Lieutenant  George  L.  Goodridge  of  the  101st  In- 
fantry, on  November  8,  with  about  thirty  men,  secured  a 
footing  in  an  advanced  enemy  trench.  The  attacking 
battalion  met  with  stubborn  resistance  and  fell  back  to 
the  starting  point.  Goodridge  and  his  men  held  on  until 
relieved  November  1 1 .  He  also  received  the  Distinguished 
Service  Cross. 

On  October  25,  Mechanic  William  F.  Bolack,  Machine 
Gun  Company,  104th  Infantry,  while  taking  a  train  of 
machine-gun  carts  to  the  relief  of  his  company  in  the 
front  line,  was  caught  in  a  terrific  bombardment.  His 
train  was  scattered,  several  of  the  mules  killed  and 
Bolack  was  wounded.  He  had  his  wounds  dressed,  and, 
refusing  to  be  evacuated,  passed  through  the  bombard- 
ment three  times  while  reorganizing  his  train  and  carry- 

20^ 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

ing  out  his  mission.  He  received  the  Distinguished  Serv- 
ice Cross. 

On  November  9  Private  First  Class  Abraham  Cohen, 
Sanitary  Detachment,  103d  Infantry,  after  three  others 
had  failed  in  the  attempt  and  were  wounded,  went  out 
under  terrific  machine-gun  fire  and  gave  first  aid  to  a 
wounded  soldier.  He  also  received  the  Distinguished 
Service  Cross. 

The  above  are  but  a  few  instances,  but  they  give  a  good 
idea  of  the  morale  of  the  division,  which,  despite  its  cas- 
ualties, hardships  and  the  loss  of  its  favorite  officers, 
including  the  beloved  General  Edwards,  fought  sternly 
on. 


203 


CHAPTER   XXIV 
The  Cessation  of  Hostilities 

Despite  the  fact  that  rumors  of  the  signing  of  an 
armistice  were  being  freely  circulated,  there  was  no  let-up. 
In  fact,  on  the  morning  of  November  11  the  101st  In- 
fantry was  ordered  to  advance  three  times,  and  the  103d 
was  engaged  in  cleaning  out  machine-gun  nests  when  the 
firing  ceased. 

This  cessation  of  hostilities  was  so  abrupt  that  for  a 
time  the  New  Englanders  could  not  realize  what  had 
happened.  The  artillery,  of  course,  had  been  forewarned, 
and  shortly  before  11  o'clock  the  shell  fire  increased  in 
intensity.  Shells  of  all  calibers  went  shrieking  across,  and 
the  din  was  terrific.  The  infantry  paid  but  slight  atten- 
tion, however,  being  inured  to  bombardments.  They 
were  going  about  their  allotted  tasks  in  the  thorough 
manner  for  which  they  were  famed,  when  they  suddenly 
realized  that  the  guns  had  ceased.  The  first  feeling  of 
the  "doughboys"  was  wrath,  because  they  thought  the 
artillery  had  left  them  unprotected.  Then  they  noticed 
that  the  enemy  were  appearing  openly  behind  their  own 
lines.  Gray -clad  figures  were  seen  capering  about  in 
strange  postures.  It  seemed  like  a  nightmare.  Even 
when  panting  runners  came  through,  and  confirmed  the 
shouted  tidings  of  the  Germans,  the  only  feeling  was  that 
of  incredulity.  When  at  last  it  was  borne  in  on  the  dazed 
minds  of  the  men  that  war  was  over,  at  least  for  the  time 
being,  they  had  but  one  thought,  —  at  last  they  could 
rest.  All  over  the  sector  they  dropped  to  the  ground  and 
proceeded  to  take  the  first  real  rest  they  had  enjoyed 

204 


Bachrach 


Lieutenant-Colonel  Horace  P.  Hobbs 


Actual  Combat  between  Allied  and  Hun  Planes 


ManoBuvering  for  Position 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

since  leaving  home,  —  it  seemed  years  before.  Through- 
out the  long  days  and  nights  when  they  had  struggled  on, 
fighting  on  sheer  nerve,  peace  had  appeared  to  be  some- 
thing which  would  never  come.  Tho.se  who  thought  about 
it  at  all  were  in  the  minority,  and  even  these  regarded  it 
hopelessly  and  dully  as  a  beautiful  dream  which  would 
never  come  true. 

It  was  some  time  before  the  men  in  the  front  lines  were 
able  to  participate  in  the  gaieties  indulged  in  by  those 
in  the  rear.  The  Germans,  however,  seemed  overjoyed, 
and  attempted  to  fraternize  with  the  Americans. 

French  and  American  troops  in  the  rear,  together  with 
civilians,  cheered  and  shouted.  The  artillerymen  had 
attached  ropes  to  their  lanyards,  so  that  every  member 
of  a  gun  crew  could  help  fire  the  last  shot.  After  this 
salvo  they  too  joined  in  the  celebration. 

In  villages  behind  the  lines  there  were  celebrations  and 
flag  raisings  all  day.  At  night,  in  the  city  of  Verdun, 
French  and  New  England  troops  took  part  in  a  parade. 
This  parade,  held  in  one  of  the  most  historic  and  vener- 
ated cities  of  France,  was  a  climax  to  days  of  toil  and 
bloodshed  and  exhaustion.  The  parade,  which  included 
Sengalese,  the  colored  Colonial  troops  of  the  French  forces, 
was  led  by  General  Marchand.  Four  of  the  Yankee  Divi- 
sion regimental  bands  took  part  and  gave  concerts  on 
every  public  square.  General  Marchand  made  speeches, 
and  the  populace  and  soldiers  cheered  until  they  were 
hoarse. 

In  the  meantime  the  sky  was  emblazoned  with  rockets 
and  flares  sent  up  from  all  along  the  line,  so  that,  except 
for  the  lack  of  noise,  it  resembled  an  intensive  bombard- 
ment. That  was  the  peculiar  part  of  the  whole  day  after 
11  o'clock,  —  no  noise;  also  lights  burning  at  night,  where 
for  years  there  had  been  darkness. 

205 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

The  celebration  in  Verdun  continued  for  several  hours, 
during  which  time  Yankee  Division  men  raised  an  Amer- 
ican flag  to  the  top  of  the  wireless  tower,  and  it  flung 
out  over  the  broken  land  of  France  like  a  comforting 
hand. 

Immediately  upon  the  cessation  of  hostilities  General 
Bamford  secured  permission  for  a  percentage  of  the  men 
to  go  to  the  leave  area  at  Grenoble.  Shaved,  bathed  and 
attired  in  clean  clothing,  the  fortunate  soldiers  were  re- 
juvenated, and  departed  for  their  first  leave  in  months 
like  a  crowd  of  schoolboys. 

On  November  18,  the  day  the  division  left  the  line, 
General  Bamford  was  relieved  of  command  and  Major 
General  Harry  C.  Hale  assigned.  On  this  day  General 
Bamford  issued  the  following  order :  — 

Officers  and  enlisted  men  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division,  I 
congratulate  you  upon  your  success  in  the  war  which  has  been 
fought  to  a  victorious  end. 

From  your  entry  into  the  battle  line  on  February  5,  1918, 
at  Chemin  des  Dames,  as  a  division  of  recruits,  until  the  cessa- 
tion of  hostilities  on  the  11th  of  November,  1918,  when  you 
laid  down  your  arms,  fighting  in  the  front  line  as  a  veteran 
division,  you  have  shown  yourselves  worthy  sons  of  the  country 
that  gave  you  birth. 

Bois  Brule,  Xivray-Marvoisin,  Torcy,  Belleau,  Givry, 
Bouresches,  Hill  190,  Epieds,  Trugny,  St.  Mihiel  salient,  Bois 
d'Haumont,  Bois  Belleau,  Bois  d'Ormont  and  Bois  de  Ville  are 
indelibly  written  on  your  banners. 

Of  what  followed  after  this,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hamil- 
ton R.  Horsey,  assistant  chief  of  staff,  Gr-2,  said :  — 

On  November  18  the  division  was  relieved  in  the  sector 
north  of  Verdun  by  the  Sixth  Division.  It  was  then  ordered 
to  march  to  the  area  east  of  Chaumont  at  Montigny  le  Hoi,  or 

206 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

the  eighth  training  area,  a  distance  of  about  137  kilometers  from 
the  Neptune  sector.  The  march  was  completed  in  seven  days 
by  the  division,  with  the  exception  of  the  artillery  brigade,  which 
suffered  casualties  among  the  horses  which  made  it  barely 
possible  for  the  101st  and  102d  Field  Artillery  to  withdraw  their 
guns  from  the  lines.  It  was  necessary  to  furnish  motor  trucks 
to  haul  the  guns  and  caissons  of  the  103d  Field  Artillery  (155m.) 
from  the  line.  For  this  reason  it  was  impossible  for  the  artillery 
to  proceed  farther  than  Suilly,  about  one-third  of  the  distance, 
where  was  located  the  headquarters  of  the  First  American 
Army.  The  artillery  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  Suilly  until  late 
in  December,  when  the  brigade  with  material  moved  by  train  to 
the  Montigny  le  Roi  area,  where  it  again  joined  the  balance  of 
the  division. 

Three  days  after  arrival  in  the  training  area  the  division  began 
work  on  a  program  of  intensive  training,  and  started  at  once  to 
receive  replacements  for  its  greatly  depleted  units.  Every 
efiFort  was  made  to  bring  the  equipment  of  the  division  up  to  a 
high  standard,  as  we  were  constantly  reminded  by  corps  and 
army  headquarters  that  the  existence  of  the  armistice  did  not 
necessarily  mean  a  complete  suspension  of  hostilities.  It  was 
also  stated  that  there  was  a  possibility  that  the  division  might 
have  to  go  back  in  line. 

The  morale  of  the  division  at  this  time  was  especially  good, 
with  the  exception  of  the  keen  disappointment,  which  almost 
bordered  on  disgust,  felt  by  all  oiBcers  and  men  that  the  Twenty- 
sixth  had  not  been  included  in  the  Army  of  Occupation  and  per- 
mitted to  move  forward  from  the  advance  line  taken  from  the 
Germans,  together  with  the  First,  Second  and  Forty-second 
Divisions,  into  and  actually  occupy  the  enemy  territory.  How- 
ever, this  point  soon  was  forgotten,  and  the  sole  idea  that  seemed 
to  predominate  the  command  was  to  adhere  closely  to  the  train- 
ing program  and  polish  up  the  efficiency  of  the  division,  absorb- 
ing the  large  percentage  of  replacements  in  order  that  they 
could  present  the  best  possible  appearance  to  the  people  of 
New  England  upon  arrival  home,  which  every  one  thought 
would  be  in  a  short  while. 

207 


CHAPTER  XXV 
President  Wilson  Dines  with  the  Twenty-sixth 

The  division  took  a  keen  interest  in  the  arrival  in  France  of 
President  Wilson,  because  they  rather  anticipated  they  would 
receive  recognition  from  him  while  he  was  on  foreign  soil.  They 
were  not  disappointed  in  this,  as  an  announcement  soon  came 
from  general  headquarters  that  the  President  planned  to  spend 
part  of  one  day  which  he  would  devote  to  the  troops  in  the  field 
with  the  Twenty-sixth  Division,  and  would  take  Christmas 
dinner  with  them. 

The  President,  after  reviewing  a  composite  division  made  up 
of  troops  from  all  divisions  in  the  First  American  Army  at 
Hume  (Haute  Marne)  on  Christmas  morning,  proceeded  by 
motor,  together  with  General  Pershing,  Mrs.  Wilson,  Ambas- 
sador and  Mrs.  Jusserand,  General  Liggett,  commanding  the 
First  American  Army,  General  Summerall,  commanding  the 
Fifth  Army  Corps,  General  Harts,  commanding  the  Paris  dis- 
trict. Admiral  Cary  Grayson  and  the  personal  staffs  of  these 
generals,  to  Montigny  le  Roi,  where  dinner  was  taken  v/ith  all 
of  the  officers  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division. 

The  102d  Infantry,  at  the  request  of  General  Pershing,  sent  to 
Chaumont  on  Christmas  morning  one  battalion  which  acted  as  a 
guard  of  honor  for  the  President  at  general  headquarters.  This 
battalion  afterwards  received  letters  of  congratulation  from  the 
Commander-in-Chief  on  its  fine  appearance  and  soldierly  bear- 
ing throughout  the  ceremonies. 

After  dinner  the  President,  accompanied  by  General  Pershing 
and  his  party,  inspected  several  of  the  billets  of  the  103d  Infan- 
try, and  later  returned  to  Chaumont,  where  he  was  again  met 
by  the  honor  guard  of  the  102d.  They  conducted  the  President 
to  his  train  on  which  he  returned  to  Paris. 

The  first  indications  received  that  the  division  had  been 
scheduled  to  return  with  the  first  units  of  the  American  Expedi- 

208 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

tionary  Forces  of  the  United  States  was  closely  following  a 
general  inspection  made  of  the  division  by  fifteen  staff  officers 
from  headquarters  of  the  First  American  Army.  This  inspec- 
tion was  the  most  thorough  to  which  the  Twenty-sixth  had  ever 
been  subjected,  including  as  it  did  a  close  investigation  and 
survey  into  every  phase  of  equipment  and  tactical  efficiency. 
Reports  made  by  these  officers  to  the  army  commander  were 
most  flattering.  Personal  comments  of  the  inspectors  before 
their  work  was  half  completed  were  that  of  five  divisions  they 
had  already  inspected  in  the  First  Army,  the  Twenty-sixth 
Division  was  rated  by  far  the  highest  in  every  way.  In  fact, 
this  report  was  so  flattering  that  many  comments  were  heard 
among  the  officers  that  it  really  sounded  too  good. 

Telegraphic  orders  then  arrived  from  the  army  directing  the 
Twenty-sixth  Division  to  move  by  train  into  the  American 
embarkation  center  and  prepare  for  their  embarkation  to  the 
United  States.  The  movement  was  to  begin  on  or  about  the 
17th  of  January. 

Close  upon  this  order  followed  advices  from  general  head- 
quarters that  French  general  headquarters  had  cited  the  1st 
Battalion  of  the  102d  Infantry  for  its  remarkable  work  in  con- 
nection with  the  operations  against  Marcheville  on  September 
26,  and  that  the  battalion  would  be  decorated  with  the  Croix 
de  Guerre  with  palm  by  Marshal  Petain,  commander  of  the 
French  Armies  of  the  East,  on  January  15, 

Preparations  for  the  ceremony  were  made,  and  Marshal 
Petain,  accompanied  by  General  Pershing,  arrived.  The  cere- 
mony was  very  impressive.  The  battalion  was  paraded  and 
presented  to  the  Marshal,  together  with  the  regimental  colors, 
and  the  latter  was  decorated,  in  the  name  of  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  French  Army,  with  the  French  war  cross. 

At  this  ceremony  Marshal  Petain  took  the  opportunity  to 
also  decorate  General  Pershing  with  the  Croix  de  Guerre,  which 
was  one  of  the  few  foreign  decorations  which  the  American 
Commander  had  not  received  from  the  Allied  governments. 

The  Yankee  Division  arrived  complete  in  the  Le  Mans  area 
of  the  American  embarkation  center  on  February  4,  and  division 

209 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 

headquarters  was  established  at  Econmoy  (Sarthe).  Immedi- 
ately a  plan  was  evolved  by  the  division  commander.  General 
Hale,  for  a  training  program  to  cover  a  period  of  one  month, 
which  was  to  be  in  the  form  of  elimination  contests,  including 
both  military  and  athletic  features,  to  culminate  in  an  extensive 
military  and  athletic  tournament. 

The  entire  division  entered  into  this  idea  of  training  with 
the  best  possible  spirit  and  enthusiasm.  As  a  consequence  the 
tournament  was  held  on  March  10,  11  and  12  with  wonderful 
success  from  every  standpoint.  This  scheme  of  training  and 
organized  amusement  for  the  division  was  a  novelty  in  the 
American  Expeditionary  Forces,  and  has  since  been  adopted 
by  them  for  other  divisions  remaining  in  France.  There  were 
no  individual  contestants  in  the  tournament.  All  units  were 
represented  by  teams  of  one  squad  of  eight  men  to  one  company 
of  two  hundred  and  fifty  men.  Prizes  were  given  to  each  mem- 
ber of  winning  teams.  These  were  handsome  silver  and  bronze 
medals  presented  by  Mr.  E.  A.  Filene  of  Boston,  and  espe- 
cially struck  by  a  Paris  jeweler  from  a  design  prepared  by  the 
division. 

General  Hale  also  presented  a  beautiful  silver  cup  to  the 
regiment  whose  team  scored  the  greatest  number  of  points  in 
the  tournament,  the  cup  going  to  the  104th  Infantry. 

Frequent  comments  were  made  by  the  headquarters  of  the 
American  embarkation  center  on  the  high  efficiency  of  adminis- 
tration of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  while  they  were  in  the 
Le  Mans  area.  The  division  being  a  veteran  organization, 
having  eighteen  months'  experience  in  service  in  France,  they 
seldom  found  it  necessary  to  call  upon  other  headquarters  for 
assistance  or  advice  in  administering  their  own  affairs.  This 
was  in  decided  contrast  to  other  organizations  who  lacked  the 
advantage  of  long  service  overseas. 

Orders  were  received  at  last  for  the  division  to  proceed  by 
rail  to  the  port  of  embarkation  at  Brest,  where  transport  would 
be  provided  to  Camp  Devens,  Ayer,  Mass.  It  was  announced 
that  the  division  would  sail  about  April  1,  and  tremendous 
enthusiasm  was  aroused  by  the  announcement  that  Boston 

210 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

had  been  designated  as  the  port  of  debarkation  in  the  United 
States. 

A  fitting  climax  was  then  reached  in  the  Yankee  Division 
service  in  France,  where  they  had  acted  as  the  advance  guard 
of  the  American  Army,  and  were  pioneers  in  blazing  the  tra,il 
for  other  divisions  which  followed  them.  They  had  also  been 
of  great  assistance  to  the  balance  of  the  army  by  furnishing 
both  officers  and  men  for  the  establishment  of  many  army 
services  which  later  cared  for  the  supply  and  training- of  the 
American  Expeditionary  Forces. 

This  climax  consisted  in  the  erection  at  Le  Mans  of  an  im- 
mense building  to  be  used  as  a  Y.  M.  C.  A.  hut  for  the  American 
Army  who  would  return  after  the  Twenty-sixth  and  pass 
through  the  embarkation  area  on  the  way  to  the  United  States. 
The  funds  for  construction  of  this  hut  were  contributed  by  the 
town  of  York  Harbor,  Me.,  v/ho  sent  Miss  Grace  Thompson  to 
France  to  arrange  the  location  of  the  building. 

Actual  construction  work  was  done  by  the  101st  Engineers 
who  added  to  their  already  enviable  record  in  the  American 
Expeditionary  Forces  by  completing  the  building,  including 
grading  the  ground,  construction  and  wiring  for  electric  lights, 
in  the  remarkable  time  of  thirty-two  hours. 

This  building  was  located  by  permission  of  the  French  gov- 
ernment in  the  Place  des  Jacobins  in  Le  Mans.  Facing  the 
large  and  historic  cathedral  is  a  most  complete  recreation 
plant,  containing  a  theatre,  a  large  rest  and  social  room  with 
cozy  fireplaces,  a  canteen,  administrative  ofiices,  ladies'  rest 
room,  five  sleeping  rooms  and  a  kitchen. 

The  building  was  made  as  typical  of  New  England  as  pos- 
sible, being  painted  white  with  green  trimmings,  and  lattice- 
work effect  which  broke  the  severe  lines.  The  interior  was 
decorated  with  shields  on  which  were  painted  the  seals  of 
each  of  the  New  England  States,  and  the  insignia  of  the  dif- 
erent  units  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division,  including  the  famous 
"Y.  D." 

The  structure  was  dedicated  "York  Harbor  Y.  D.  Hut," 
and  at  a  formal  ceremony  held  in  the  theatre,  at  which  were 

211 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

present  representatives  of  all  units  in  the  division,  was  placed 
in  the  care  of  Major-General  Edward  Read,  commanding  the 
American  embarkation  center.  Co-operating  with  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  he  will  operate  this  Yankee  Division  Memorial  for  the 
comfort  and  pleasure  of  the  American  soldiers  in  France. 

The  Christmas  dinner,  described  so  briefly  by  Colonel 
Horsey,  was  indeed  an  event  for  the  Yankee  Division. 
Because  of  their  long  service,  and  the  fact  that  they  were 
one  of  the  premier  fighting  divisions  of  the  American  Expe- 
ditionary Forces,  the  Twenty-sixth  was  selected  by  Presi- 
dent Wilson  to  act  as  hosts  for  him  at  dinner. 

It  was  originally  planned  that  he  should  eat  with  the 
enlisted  men  only,  and  preparations  were  begun  days 
ahead  of  time.  However,  because  of  weather  conditions, 
and  the  fact  that  it  would  be  necessary  for  the  Chief 
Executive  to  wade  through  mud,  the  plan  was  changed. 
It  was  then  decided  that  the  presidential  party  would 
dine  with  selected  officers  only. 

The  President  arrived  at  Chaumont  early  in  the  morn- 
ing and  was  greeted  by  General  Pershing.  The  honor 
guard  from  the  102d  Infantry  was  on  hand,  as  was  the 
famous  band  of  the  101st  Infantry,  said  to  be  the  best 
military  band  in  France. 

The  official  party  proceeded  to  Humes,  near  Langres, 
in  automobiles,  and  found  troops  of  a  composite  division 
drawn  up  at  attention  waiting  for  the  review.  The 
Yankee  Division  was  represented  by  Company  B  of  the 
101st  Infantry;  Company  K  of  the  102d  Infantry; 
Company  F  of  the  103d  Infantry;  Company  L  of  the 
104th  Infantry;  a  company  of  the  101st  Field  Signal 
Battalion;  Company  F  of  the  101st  Engineers;  and 
Companies  A,  B,  C  and  D  of  the  102d  Machine  Gun  Bat- 
talion. 

212 


Colonel  Robert  Goodwin 


I'lulerwood  A:   Underwood,  New  York 

Members   of   102d   Infantry   loading   Supply   Wagons   with   Food  for 
Men  at  Front,  France,  October  27,  1918 


'Fanny,"  the  Kaiser's  Goat,  101st  Infantry,  Company  K,  Hartford, 

Conn. 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

A  reviewing  stand,  draped  in  red,  white  and  blue  bunt- 
ing, had  been  erected,  and  from  this  the  President  con- 
ducted the  review.  The  troops  were  drawn  up  in  a  hol- 
low square,  under  command  of  General  Alexander  of  the 
Seventy-seventh  Division.  On  every  hand  were  thou- 
sands of  cheering  French  villagers,  soldiers  and  officers 
who  were  not  taking  part  in  the  ceremonies. 

The  President  addressed  the  throng  of  soldiers  before 
the  review  began,  speaking  with  extreme  brevity.  His 
speech  followed  a  few  introductory  remarks  by  General 
Pershing,  who  said :  — 

Mr.  President  and  Fellow  Soldiers:  We  are  gathered  here 
to-day  to  do  honor  to  the  commander  of  our  armies  and  navies. 
For  the  first  time  an  American  President  will  review  an  American 
Army  on  foreign  soil,  —  the  soil  of  a  sister  Republic  beside 
whose  gallant  troops  we  have  fought  to  restore  peace  to  the 
world. 

Speaking  for  you  and  your  comrades,  I  am  proud  to  declare 
to  the  President  that  no  army  has  ever  more  loyally  or  more 
effectively  served  its  country,  and  none  has  ever  fought  in  a 
nobler  cause. 

You,  Mr.  President,  by  your  confidence  and  by  your  support, 
have  made  the  success  of  our  army,  and  to  you,  as  our  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, may  I  now  present  the  nation's  victorious 
army. 

Then  the  President  stepped  forward  and  said :  — 

General  Pershing  and  Fellow  Comrades:  I  wish  that  I  could 
give  to  each  one  of  you  the  message  that  I  know  you  are  longing 
to  receive  from  those  at  home  who  love  you.  I  cannot  do 
that,  but  I  can  tell  you  how  every  one  has  put  his  heart  into  it. 
So  you  have  done  your  duty,  and  something  more,  —  you  have 
done  your  duty,  and  you  have  done  it  with  a  spirit  which  gave 
it  distinction  and  glory. 

213 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 

And  now  we  are  to  hail  the  fruits  of  everything  you  have 
conquered  since  you  came  over,  —  what  you  came  over  for,  — 
and  you  have  done  what  it  was  appointed  for  you  to  do.  I 
know  what  you  expected  of  me.  Some  time  ago  a  gentleman 
from  one  of  the  countries  with  which  we  are  associated  was 
discussing  with  me  the  moral  aspects  of  this  war,  and  I  said 
that  if  we  did  not  insist  upon  the  high  purpose  which  we  have 
accomplished  the  end  would  not  be  justified. 

Everybody  at  home  is  proud  of  you,  and  has  followed  every 
movement  of  this  great  army  with  confidence  and  affection. 
The  whole  people  of  the  United  States  are  now  waiting  to 
welcome  you  home  with  an  acclaim  which  probably  has  never 
greeted  any  other  army,  because  our  country  is  like  this  country. 
We  have  been  so  proud  of  the  stand  taken,  of  the  purpose  for 
which  this  war  was  entered  into  by  the  United  States. 

You  knew  what  we  expected  of  you  and  you  did  it.  I  know 
what  you  and  the  people  at  home  expected  of  me,  and  I  am 
happy  to  say,  my  fellow  countrymen,  that  I  do  not  find  in  the 
hearts  of  the  great  leaders  with  whom  it  is  my  privilege  now 
to  co-operate  any  difference  of  principle  or  of  fundamental 
purpose. 

It  happened  that  it  was  the  privilege  of  America  to  present 
the  chart  for  peace,  and  now  the  process  of  settlement  has 
been  rendered  comparatively  simple  by  the  fact  that  all  the 
nations  concerned  have  accepted  that  chart,  and  the  appli- 
cation of  these  principles  laid  down  there  will  be  their  appli- 
cation. 

The  world  will  now  know  that  the  nations  that  fought  this 
war,  as  well  as  the  soldiers  who  represented  them,  are  ready 
to  make  good,  —  make  good  not  only  in  the  assertion  of  their 
own  interests,  but  make  good  in  the  establishment  of  peace 
upon  the  permanent  foundation  of  right  and  of  justice. 

Because  this  is  not  a  war  in  which  the  soldiers  of  the  free 
nations  have  obeyed  masters.  You  have  commanders,  but  you 
have  no  masters.  Your  very  commanders  represent  you  in 
representing  the  Nation,  of  which  you  constitute  so  distin- 
guished a  part. 

214 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

And  everybody  concerned  in  the  settlement  knows  that  it 
must  be  a  people's  peace,  and  that  nothing  must  be  done  in 
the  settlement  of  the  issues  of  the  war  which  is  not  so  handsome 
as  the  great  achievements  of  the  armies  of  the  United  States 
and  the  Allies. 

It  is  difficult,  very  difficult,  men,  in  any  normal  speech  like 
this,  to  show  you  my  real  heart.  You  men  probably  do  not 
realize  with  what  anxious  attention  and  care  we  have  followed 
every  step  you  have  advanced,  and  how  proud  we  are  that 
every  step  was  in  advance  and  not  in  retreat;  that  every  time 
you  set  your  face  in  any  direction  you  kept  your  face  in  that 
direction. 

A  thrill  has  gone  through  my  heart  as  it  has  gone  through 
the  heart  of  every  American,  with  almost  every  gun  that  was 
fired  and  every  stroke  that  was  struck  in  the  gallant  fighting 
that  you  have  done,  and  there  has  been  only  one  regret  in 
America,  and  that  w^as  the  regret  that  every  man  there  felt 
that  he  was  not  in  France  too. 

It  has  been  a  hard  thing  to  perform  the  tasks  in  the  United 
States.  It  has  been  a  hard  thing  to  take  part  in  directing 
what  you  did  wdthout  coming  over  and  helping  you  to  do  it. 
It  has  taken  a  lot  of  moral  courage  to  stay  at  home.  But  we 
are  proud  to  back  you  up  everywhere  that  it  is  possible  to 
back  you  up,  and  now  I  am  happy  to  find  what  splendid  names 
you  have  made  for  yourselves  among  the  civilian  population 
of  France,  as  well  as  among  your  comrades  in  the  armies  of 
the  French,  and  it  is  a  fine  testimony  to  you  men  that  these 
people  like  you  and  love  you  and  trust  you,  and  the  finest  part 
of  it  all  is  that  you  deserve  their  trust. 

I  feel  a  comradeship  with  you  to-day  which  is  delightful. 
As  I  look  down  upon  these  undisturbed  fields  and  think  of  the 
terrible  scenes  through  which  you  have  gone,  and  realize  how 
the  quiet  of  peace,  the  tranquillity  of  settled  hopes,  has  de- 
scended upon  us,  while  it  is  hard  to  be  far  from  home,  I  can 
bid  you  a  Merry  Christmas,  and  I  can,  I  think,  confidently 
promise  you  a  Happy  New  Year,  and  I  can  from  the  bottom  of 
my  heart  say,  Grod  bless  you. 

215 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

With  blaring  of  bands  the  review  then  took  place,  the 
long  columns  swinging  by  in  company  front.  The  men 
plowed  doggedly  through  the  mud,  and  in  a  short  time 
had  all  passed  the  reviewing  stand. 

The  President  and  his  party  then  re-entered  automobiles 
and  proceeded  to  Montigny-le-Roi,  where  the  Yankee 
Division  was  anxiously  awaiting  them. 

The  dinner  had  been  prepared  under  the  direction  of 
Mess  Sergeant  Herbert  A.  Hoey,  a  former  Worcester, 
Mass.,  restaurant  proprietor.  He  was  assisted  by  Ser- 
geant Paul  Dufourd,  a  Boston  restaurateur.  The  two  men 
had  secured  chickens,  turkeys  with  dressing,  cauliflower 
and  mashed  potato,  with  cranberry  sauce  and  pumpkin 
pies.  It  had  been  a  tremendous  task  to  gather  together 
enough  turkeys,  to  say  nothing  of  plates,  chairs  and  tables, 
but  it  was  done. 

The  menus  were  gotten  up  by  the  topographical  section 
of  the  intelligence  department  of  the  division,  and  con- 
tained eight  pages.  On  the  front  page  was  the  famous 
"  Y.  D. "  with  mistletoe.  On  the  inside  cover  was  the  title 
page,  headed  by  an  American  eagle  perched  upon  a  shield 
over  which  swords  were  crossed.   Under  this  was  printed : — 

Memento,  Christmas  Dinner  for  President  Wilson,  by  officers 
of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division,  American  Expeditionary  Forces, 
Montigny-le-Roi,  France,  December  twenty-fifth,  nineteen 
hundred  and  eighteen.  Printed  in  the  field  by  Headquarters 
Twenty-sixth  Division,  American  Expeditionary  Forces. 

This  last  sentence  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  page,  and 
was  flanked  by  two  more  shields,  the  whole  page  being  done 
in  colors. 

Other  pages  were  bordered  with  war  sketches,  while 
the  fourth  and  sixth  contained  brief  histories  of  the  battles 
and  service  of  the  Twenty-sixth. 

216 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

The  main  ambition  of  the  New  Englanders  at  that 
time  was  deftly  set  forth  upon  the  back  cover,  by  the 
reproduction  of  a  steamship  plowing  the  Atlantic  and 
headed  for  the  United  States. 

As  the  Presidential  party  entered  the  old  school  and 
former  hospital  in  which  the  dinner  was  given,  the  band 
of  the  102d  Infantry  outside  gave  ruffles  and  then  played 
*'The  Star  Spangled  Banner." 

The  party  took  their  seats,  and,  despite  the  fact  that 
there  was  no  napery  or  silverware,  the  meal  was  thor- 
oughly enjoyed.  There  was  no  speaking.  As  soon  as  the 
dinner  was  finished  the  President  left,  merely  waving  his 
hand  and  shouting  "Good-by!"  to  the  thousands  of  vil- 
lagers and  soldiers  clustered  outside.  He  then  entered 
his  automobile  and  drove  to  some  billets  occupied  by  the 
103d  Infantry,  which  were  on  the  road  to  Chaumont. 
Two  or  three  of  these  the  President  inspected,  and  in  one 
occurred  an  incident  that  brought  many  smiles  to  the 
soldiers  for  some  time  afterward. 

On  each  man's  bunk  was  laid  out  his  equipment,  with 
each  article  in  a  certain  place,  as  prescribed  by  regula- 
tions. Noticing  a  jointed  stick  the  President  called  it  to 
the  attention  of  General  Pershing.  The  latter  picked  up 
the  stick,  and  straightening  it  out,  explained  that  it  was 
one  of  the  poles  for  a  "pup"  tent,  so  called,  —  the  little 
two-man  tents  which  are  carried  on  the  march.  After 
examining  it  the  President  handed  the  pole  back  to  Gen- 
eral Pershing,  who  tossed  it  carelessly  on  to  the  bunk. 
"But,"  said  President  Wilson,  "suppose  that  man's  bunk 
is  inspected  again.  He  would  get  into  trouble  with  that 
pole  lying  like  that.  As  your  commanding  officer  I  order 
you  to  replace  the  pole  the  way  it  should  be."  General 
Pershing  snapped  to  attention,  saluted  and  replaced  the 
pole  in  its  proper  position. 

217 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

This  billet  was  on  the  second  floor  of  a  French  stable, 
and  in  order  to  enter  it  the  President  was  forced  to  ascend 
a  ladder.  While  engaged  in  this  more  or  less  awkward 
feat  he  was  snapped  again  and  again  by  moving-picture 
operators  and  photographers. 

In  another  billet  the  President  started  to  relate  a  story 
to  a  squad  of  men  who  were  standing  rigidly  at  attention. 
Although  the  Commander-in-Chief  put  all  his  personality 
into  the  tale,  it  apparently  had  no  effect  on  the  soldiers, 
who  continued  to  stare  straight  ahead.  At  last  the  Chief 
Executive  of  the  United  States  stopped  talking,  con- 
sidered a  moment,  and  then  said:  "I  don't  know  what 
command  to  give  you  to  make  you  do  it,  but  I  wish  you 
would  all  relax  a  minute  and  look  as  though  you  were 
interested  in  the  story." 

Promptly  the  corporal  stepped  forward  one  pace,  faced 
smartly  to  the  left,  commanded:  "At  ease!"  and  the 
thing  was  done. 

The  visitors  then  went  on  their  way  to  Chaumont, 
while  the  remainder  of  the  division  proceeded  to  enjoy 
their  own  Christmas  dinners. 

Later  a  telegram  was  received  from  General  Pershing 
by  General  Hale,  which  read :  — 

I  desire  to  congratulate  the  division  on  the  excellent  work 
of  the  battalion  which  represented  it  as  guard  of  honor  at 
Chaumont;  on  the  fine  appearance  and  discipline  manifested 
by  the  men  during  the  visit  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States  to  the  billets  of  the  division;  and  on  the  splendid  appear- 
ance made  by  the  detachments  representing  the  division  in  the 
review  for  the  President  at  Humes,  France,  December  25,  1918. 

It  was  impossible  for  all  of  the  oflScers  of  the  division 
to  attend  the  Christmas  dinner,  so  only  a  certain  per- 
centage were  picked.    A  list  of  these  follows.    It  will  be 

218 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

noted  that  even  this  brief  roster  shows  a  great  many 
changes  in  officers :  — 

Major  General  Harry  C.  Hale,  Commanding  General. 

Brigadier-General  George  H.  Shelton,  commanding  Fifty- 
first  Infantry  Brigade. 

Brigadier-General  Pelham  D.  Glassford,  commanding  Fifty- 
first  Field  Artillery  Brigade. 

Brigadier-General  Charles  H.  Cole,  commanding  Fifty-second 
Infantry  Brigade. 

Colonel  B.  Frank  Cheatham,  commanding  104th  Infantry. 

Colonel  Percy  W.  Arnold,  commanding  103d  Infantry. 

Colonel  Duncan  K.  Major,  Jr.,  chief  of  staff,  division  head- 
quarters. 

Colonel  Horace  P.  Hobbs,  commanding  101st  Infantry. 

Colonel  Douglas  Potts,  commanding  102d  Infantry. 

Colonel  Jacob  A.  Mack,  commanding  102d  Field  Artillery. 

Colonel  George  W.  Bunnell,  commanding  101st  Engineers. 

Colonel  Warren  E.  Sweetser,  commanding  101st  Head- 
quarters Train. 

Colonel  Robert  E.  Goodwin,  commanding  101st  Field  Artil- 
lery. 

Colonel  J.  Alden  Twachtman,  commanding  103d  Field  Ar- 
tillery. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Cassius  M.  Dowell,  assistant  chief  of 
staff,  G-3,  division  headquarters. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  William  J.  Keville,  commanding  101st 
Ammunition  Train. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Alfred  F.  Foote,  division  inspector. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Charles  A.  Stevens,  di\Tision  adjutant. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Elon  F.  Tandy,  division  quartermaster. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Harry  B.  Anderson,  division  judge  advo- 
cate. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  William  H.  Dolan,  division  ordnance 
oflScer. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  John  D.  Murphy,  division  machine  gun 
officer. 

219 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Frank  S.  Perkins,  101st  Field  Artillery. 

Major  Amaury  du  Boisrouvray,  French  Army. 

Major  Thomas  L.  Jenkins,  division  surgeon, 

ISIajor  Fred  E.  Jones,  commanding  101st  Sanitary  Train. 

Major  William  P.  Carpenter,  commanding  102d  Machine 
Gun  Battalion. 

Major  Felix  B.  La  Crosse,  commanding  101st  Field  Signal 
Battalion. 

Major  Thomas  F,  Foley,  101st  Infantry. 

Major  Edward  J.  Connelly,  104th  Infantry. 

Major  Henry  H.  Wheelock,  101st  Supply  Train. 

Major  Norman  D.  McLeod,  103d  Field  Artillery. 

Major  Herbert  L.  Bowen,  103d  Machine  Gun  Battalion. 

Major  Hamilton  R,  Horsey,  assistant  chief  of  staff,  G-2,  divi- 
sion headquarters. 

Major  Albert  Greenlaw,  assistant  chief  of  staff,  G-1,  division 
headquarters. 

Major  Stanhope  Bayne-Jones,  division  sanitary  inspector. 

Captain  Rawdon  W.  Myers,  101st  Machine  Gun  Battalion. 

Captain  Linwood  M.  Gable,  Medical  Corps,  104th  Infantry. 

Captain  Roger  Williams,  103d  Infantry. 

Captain  Irving  E.  Doane,  103d  Infantry. 

Captain  John  R.  Feegal,  102d  Infantry. 

Captain  James  Brown,  104th  Infantry. 

Captain  William  F.  Howe,  102d  Field  Artillery. 

Captain  James  G.  Rivers,  104th  Infantry. 

Captain  Lee  H.  Cover,  102d  Field  Artillery. 

Captain  John  Rachek,  104th  Infantry. 

Captain  Robert  O.  Blood,  assistant  to  division  surgeon. 

Captain  Joseph  H.  Dunn,  Medical  Corps,  101st  Ambulance 
Company. 

Captain  Charles  W.  Comfort,  Medical  Corps,  102d  Infantry. 

Captain  James  H.  Erlenbach,  Medical  Corps,  103d  Infantry. 

Captain  John  Humbird,  102d  Machine  Gun  Battalion. 

Captain  Harry  R.  Howe,  101st  Engineers. 

Captain  Thomas  G.  Holt,  101st  Field  Artillery. 

First  Lieutenant  John  P.  King,  division  headquarters. 

220 


Lieutenant-Colonel  Frank  P.  Williams 


Boston  Committee  on  its  Way  to  meet  the  Home-coming  Yankee 

Division 


Transport    "America"    bringing   Home    Some    of    "New   England's 

Own  " 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Chaplain  Michael  J.  O'Connor,  division  chaplain. 

Chaplain  Lyman  Rollins,  101st  Infantry. 

Chaplain  William  J.  Farrell,  104th  Infantry. 

First  Lieutenant  Ross  E.  Weaver,  Medical  Corps,  102d  In- 
fantry. 

First  Lieutenant  Harry  Christiansen,  Medical  Corps,  101st 
Field  Hospital. 

First  Lieutenant  Crawford  J.  Ferguson,  104th  Infantry. 

Chaplain  Thomas  G.  Speers,  102d  Infantry. 

First  Lieutenant  William  H.  Murphy,  104th  Infantry. 


Ul 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

Animals  of  the  Division 

At  this  point  it  may  be  of  interest  to  include  a  history 
of  the  animals  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division,  which  was 
compiled  by  Captain  Nicholas  Biddle,  the  remount  officer. 
This  history  was  gotten  up  and  forwarded  to  General 
Edwards  because  of  the  latter's  love  of  animals,  together 
with  the  fact  that  they  had  served  the  Yankee  Division 
well  and  played  an  important  part  in  its  successes.  The 
history,  although  drawn  up  in  military  form,  shows  a  deep 
understanding  and  love  for  animals  on  the  part  of  Captain 
Biddle,  and  also  again  emphasizes  the  affection  felt  by 
officers  and  men  for  the  former  commanding  officer.  It 
follows :  — 

Headquarters  Twentt-sixth  Division, 

American  Expeditionary  Forces, 

France,  February  14,  1919. 

From :      Division  Remount  Officer. 

To:  Major-General  Clarence  R.  Edwards. 

Subject:  Report. 

The  first  issue  of  animals  was  received  by  the  division  during 
the  middle  of  November  when  in  training  in  the  Neufchateau 
area.  This  issue  consisted  of  some  400  head  of  French  draft 
stock,  mostly  horses.  When  unloaded  at  Rebeuville  many  of 
them  were  in  wretched  shape,  and  a  number  died  from  emacia- 
tion. A  telegram  was  sent  for  curry  combs  and  brushes,  but  it 
was  some  time  before  a  supply  was  received.  The  animals  were 
later  distributed  to  the  various  infantry  units,  but  this  dis- 
tribution was  delayed,  as  there  were  not  sufficient  wagons  or 
trucks  on  hand  to  haul  forage  for  them. 

Shortly  after  this  two  shipments  of  good  American  stock, 
made  up  of  some  665  mules  and  230  horses,  arrived  at  Liffol-le- 

222 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Grand  from  St.  Nazaire.  These  animals  were  distributed  to 
all  organizations,  wnth  the  exception  of  the  artillery,  which  at  this 
time  was  detached  from  the  division. 

The  artillery  brigade  in  the  meantime,  at  Coetquidon,  re- 
ceived from  the  French  remount  service  numerous  issues  of 
animals,  so  that  early  in  January  it  had  some  3,000  horses  and 
200  mules.  It  was  while  there  that  the  French  mange  first  ap- 
peared among  the  artillery  animals.  The  1st  of  Februarj% 
just  previous  to  the  division  moving  to  the  Chemin  des  Dames 
sector,  north  of  Soissons,  there  were  on  hand  approximately 
280  draft  horses,  330  riding  horses,  and  830  draft  mules  in  the 
units  outside  the  artillery. 

In  the  latter  part  of  February,  when  the  division  w^as  north 
of  Soissons,  some  1,000  mules  and  700  horses,  mostly  of  Ameri- 
can stock,  were  received  from  Bordeaux,  St.  Nazaire  and  the 
remount  depot  at  Bourbonne-les-Bains.  These  animals  were 
distributed  to  all  organizations,  including  the  artillery,  which 
had  left  Coetquidon  early  in  February.  While  in  this  sector 
nearly  all  the  animals  in  the  division  were  clipped. 

On  March  1  a  detail  from  the  101st  Ammunition  Train  was 
sent  down  to  the  remount  depot  at  La  Rochelle  and  drew  500 
horses  of  American  stock,  part  of  whom  were  turned  over  to  the 
artillery  brigade  in  the  rest  area  at  Rimaucourt. 

On  April  3,  when  the  division  moved  into  the  Boucq  sector 
north  of  Toul,  there  were  several  more  small  issues  of  French 
stock.  It  was  at  this  time  that  the  French  mange  made  its 
appearance  in  earnest  among  the  animals.  Every  effort  was 
made  by  the  division  to  stamp  it  out.  A  dipping  vat  was  estab- 
lished at  Sanzey,  in  charge  of  the  IMobile  Veterinary  Unit. 
Practically  all  animals  were  dipped  at  least  four  times,  so  that 
when  the  division  entrained  for  Chateau-Thierry  scarcely  a  case 
of  mange  remained. 

It  may  be  of  some  interest  to  relate  at  this  point  an  incident 
told  by  Major  Merrillat,  later  chief  veterinarian  of  the  First 
Army.  At  the  time  the  division  left  the  Neuf chateau  training 
area,  in  early  February,  he  was  in  charge  of  the  veterinary  hospi- 
tal at  Neufchdteau.     In  a  certain  unit  of  the  division  horses 

223 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

of  French  stock  had  been  received  already  badly  infected  with 
mange.  An  officer  of  the  unit  was  most  anxious  to  remedy 
conditions,  and  in  order  to  try  to  do  so  he  arranged  with 
Major  Merrillat  to  turn  in  to  the  hospital  at  Neufchateau  a 
number  of  the  worst  mange  cases  and  receive  in  return  lighter 
mange  cases,  no  other  animals  being  available.  This  incident 
gives  an  interesting  sidelight  on  the  animal  situation  in  the 
American  Expeditionary  Forces  at  this  time. 

The  1st  of  July  the  division  entrained  for  Chateau-Thierry. 
From  July  10  to  July  25,  when  the  division  participated  in  the 
great  drive  that  was  to  decide  the  war,  the  horses  and  mules 
were  called  upon  to  do  heart-breaking  work.  In  the  artillery 
brigade  and  ammunition  train,  especially,  not  only  were  the 
animals  exposed  to  constant  shell  fire,  but  were  continuously 
in  harness  from  twenty-four  to  thirty-six  hours,  hauling  guns, 
ammunition  and  supplies.  Many  a  poor  beast  died  in  harness 
from  sheer  exhaustion,  while  others  were  blown  to  pieces  by 
shell  fire.  Forage  rations  at  this  time  were  far  below  the  allow- 
ance, and  in  order  to  keep  the  animals  going  at  the  front  it  was 
necessary  to  send  forward  most  of  the  grain  that  was  received, 
leaving  the  animals  in  the  rear  echelons  to  subsist  on  hay  and 
such  grazing  as  was  possible.  As  an  illustration  of  the  extreme 
exhaustion  to  which  the  animals  had  been  subjected,  800  ani- 
mals were  evacuated  at  Nanteuil-sur-Marne  between  August  13 
and  22  by  the  Division  Veterinary  Corps.  Tlihty  of  them  died 
on  the  road,  over  a  distance  of  8  kilometers.  The  artillery 
brigade  and  ammunition  train  remained  in  line  in  this  drive 
until  early  August,  after  other  units  had  been  withdrawn. 

The  story  is  told  by  an  eye-witness,  after  this  drive,  of  a  poor 
bedraggled  artillery  man  who  was  seen  literally  dragging  his 
exhausted  horse  behind  him.  Finally,  both  could  go  no  farther, 
and  man  and  beast  lay  down  together  on  the  side  of  the  road, 
the  man's  head  resting  against  the  body  of  his  faithful  animal, 
both  utterly  worn  out. 

At  the  time  of  the  Chateau-Thierry  drive  the  division  had 
several  issues  of  French  draft  stock,  including  draft  stallions. 
A  word  about  these  stallions.    Although  big  and  powerful  ani- 

224 


THE   YANKEE  DIVISION 

mals  they  could  not  stand  up  under  conditions  at  the  front. 
They  worked  hard  at  first,  in  fact,  too  hard,  and  soon  exhausted 
themselves,  and  fell  off  so  in  flesh  and  strength  that  most  of 
them  were  later  evacuated.  Doubtless,  previous  to  their  pur- 
chase for  the  army,  they  had  lived  the  well-regulated  life  of  the 
French  farm  horse,  —  short  and  easy  hauls,  ample  feed  and 
shelter,  with  little  or  no  hardships.  Some  of  them  had  evidently 
been  used  for  breeding  purposes,  which  made  them  soft  and 
unfit  for  hard  continuous  draft  work  without  previous  season- 
ing. The  division  at  this  time  also  received  several  issues  of 
big  fine  French  mares,  beautiful  stock,  but  many  of  whom  later 
slipped  foals  prematurely  on  account  of  gun  fire.  Immediately 
they  lost  flesh  and  strength  and  appeared  to  shrink  away,  so 
that  most  of  them  also  had  to  be  evacuated. 

On  August  11,  when  the  division  moved  to  the  rest  area  at 
Chatillon-sur-Seine,  forage  was  again  extremely  short,  so  much 
so,  in  fact,  that  the  quartermaster  authorized  supply  officers 
to  purchase  grain  and  hay  direct  from  French  civilians.  Every 
opportunity  was  utilized  to  graze  animals  in  this  area. 

From  Chatillon  the  division  entrained  for  Bar-le-Duc,  and 
from  there  proceeded  over  the  road  towards  St.  Mihiel,  where, 
on  September  8  to  12,  it  prepared  and  took  part  in  the  great 
American  coup  which  flattened  out  the  salient  that  had  been  a 
thorn  in  the  side  of  the  French  for  four  years.  Again  the  animals 
were  exposed  to  heavy  shell  fire,  but  were  not  subjected  to  the 
tremendous  exhaustion  that  they  underwent  at  Chateau- 
Thierry. 

After  the  St.  Mihiel  push  a  new  lease  of  life  was  given  the 
animals  of  the  division,  and  for  about  three  weeks  they  enjoyed 
more  rest,  comfort  and  care  than  they  had  received  for  con- 
siderable time. 

The  division  was  moved  September  14  to  the  Troyon  sector, 
and  in  the  woods  on  either  side  of  the  Grande  Tranchee  most  of 
the  animals  were  picketed.  At  first  a  certain  number  of  horses 
in  the  artillery  were  held  up  in  the  forward  echelons,  but  after 
a  number  of  the  horses  were  severely  gassed,  and  still  others 
lost  by  shell  fire,  it  was  considered  advisable  to  move  practically 

225 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

all  of  them  back  to  the  rear  echelons.  This  was  done  in  spite 
of  the  fact  that  they  were  a  considerable  distance  to  the  rear  of 
the  gun  positions.  However,  as  the  sector  was  a  quiet  one,  it 
was  thought  better  to  move  them  back  where  they  were  far 
more  protected  from  shell  fire,  and  take  the  chance  of  rushing 
them  forward  if  the  gun  positions  had  to  be  suddenly  changed. 
If  this  had  not  been  done  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  artillery 
would  have  been  able  to  remain  mobile,  as  there  were  no  re- 
placements of  animals  at  this  time.  The  plight  of  the  gassed 
horses  was  pitiable.  Their  skin  became  rough,  they  refused  to 
eat,  with  a  consequent  falling  off  in  flesh,  so  that  practically  all 
of  them  were  subsequently  evacuated. 

Previous  to  this  time  a  motor  truck  had  been  converted  into 
an  animal  ambulance  by  Captain  Wilham  C.  VanAllstyne, 
assistant  division  veterinarian.  The  ambulance  held  five 
animals  placed  crosswise  and  separated  by  partition  boards 
dropped  in  grooves.  By  means  of  a  runway  which  let  down 
behind  it  could  be  fully  loaded  in  ten  minutes.  This  truck 
ambulance  did  most  excellent  work  transporting  gassed, 
wounded  and  debilitated  animals  to  the  veterinary  hospitals 
many  kilometers  to  the  rear. 

In  spite  of  all  efforts  to  prevent  it,  mange  at  this  time  again 
appeared  among  the  animals,  especially  in  the  artillery,  and  this 
devastating  disease  appeared  set  on  unhorsing  the  division. 

In  the  St.  Mihiel  drive  from  70  to  80  horses  were  abandoned 
by  the  Boche  and  taken  over  by  the  division.  Several  of  these 
were  suspected  of  glanders  and  destroyed.  Most  of  the  re- 
mainder were  good  specimens,  and  later  did  excellent  work. 
Unfortunately  the  exact  number  of  horses  captured  remained 
somewhat  of  a  mystery,  as  organizations  were  always  most 
modest  in  reporting  them  on  their  returns. 

On  October  8  the  division,  less  the  artillery  brigade,  moved 
over  the  road  from  the  Troyon  sector  to  Verdun,  the  animals 
making  the  distance  of  some  50  kilometers  in  excellent  fashion. 
The  artillery  brigade  followed  a  few  days  later,  having  to  wait 
for  the  Fifty-fifth  Artillery  Brigade,  attached  to  the  Seventy- 
ninth  Division,  to  relieve  them.    This  brigade  was  sadly  handi- 

226 


THE   YANKEE  DIVISION 

capped  by  lack  of  animals,  and  consequently  did  not  arrive 
when  first  expected.  In  fact,  so  limited  was  their  animal  strength 
that  it  was  necessary  for  the  horses  of  the  Fifty -first  Field  Artil- 
lery Brigade  to  pull  practically  all  of  their  guns  into  position. 
These  had  previously  been  hauled  by  motor  trucks  as  far  for- 
ward as  possible. 

The  artillery  brigade  came  over  the  road  toward  Verdun  in 
two  night  marches  in  excellent  fashion,  considering  that  many  of 
the  caissons  and  guns  were  drawn  by  only  four  horses.  The 
brigade  encamped  in  the  Bois  Sartelles,  5  kilometers  south  of 
Verdun. 

On  October  18  the  division  received  orders  to  enter  the  lines 
and  organize  for  an  attack.  Immediately  guns  were  hauled 
from  15  to  20  kilometers  into  position,  all  marches  being  made 
by  night. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  a  most  stringent  order  was  issued 
by  General  Headquarters,  American  Expeditionary  Forces,  in 
view  of  the  serious  situation  of  the  artillery  and  animal  trans- 
port of  the  First  Army,  due  to  the  shortage  of  animals.  It 
stated  that  every  measure  possible  to  conserve  the  strength 
and  improve  the  condition  of  animals  on  hand  must  be  taken, 
and  that  the  continued  mobility  of  the  army  depended  upon 
the  immediate  adoption  of  most  radical  measures.  This  order 
further  stated  that  only  prescribed  drivers  should  be  permitted 
to  ride  on  teams  or  vehicles,  and  that  drivers  of  machine-gun 
carts  and  cannoneers  would  carry  their  own  packs  the  same  as 
infantry.  In  the  artillery  the  drivers  would  alternate,  riding 
one  hour  and  leading  the  next,  and  at  all  halts  drivers  would 
dismount. 

The  plan  of  keeping  animals  in  forward  echelons  was  again 
tried  in  the  Verdun  sector,  but  was  met  with  the  severest  kind 
of  animal  losses  from  exposure,  shell  fire  and  gas.  As  a  result, 
the  greater  part  of  the  artillery  animals  were  taken  back  to  the 
more  or  less  sheltered  rear  echelons,  while  the  animals  of  the 
infantry  and  other  divisional  units  were  stabled  in  the  some- 
what demolished  but  nevertheless  sheltered  casernes  of  Verdun. 
Mules  for  the  rolling  kitchens,  ration  carts,  water  carts,  and  a 

227 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

number  of  mules  for  machine  guns,  had  necessarily  to  be  kept 
up  fairly  close  to  the  lines,  and  it  was  these  animals  that  shared 
the  brunt  of  shelling  and  exposure.  The  plan,  however,  was 
adopted  to  alternate  these  animals,  so  that  after  one  had 
served  several  days  at  the  front  it  was  brought  back  to  a  rear 
echelon,  rested  and  cared  for,  while  another  took  its  place. 

Up  behind  the  lines  picketing  of  animals  in  small  groups  of 
three,  four  and  six  was  employed  as  protection  from  shell  fire. 
There  was  an  instance,  however,  in  a  certain  machine  gun  com- 
pany, where  this  was  not  done,  and  twelve  fine  mules  tied 
together  on  one  picket  line  were  completely  wiped  out  by  a 
shell  landing  directly  beside  them. 

A  word  here,  it  is  believed,  should  be  said  about  the  men 
who  drove  the  rolling  kitchens,  ration  and  water  carts  up  the 
lines,  often  along  roads  with  no  protection  whatsoever,  and 
exposed  to  heavy  shell  fire.  These  so-called  "mule  skinners" 
took  care  of  their  animals  under  conditions  when  it  was  bad 
enough  to  have  to  look  after  one's  self,  yet  without  the  glory 
of  the  men  in  the  trenches,  although  their  work  was  often 
equally  as  hazardous  and  courageous.  An  instance  is  brought 
to  mind  of  one  of  these  men  in  the  102d  Infantry  grooming 
his  mules  under  shell  fire  who,  when  raising  his  head,  was 
found  to  have  a  piece  of  shrapnel  lodged  in  under  the  skin  of 
his  forehead.  On  being  questioned  as  to  why  he  did  not  go 
to  a  dressing  station  which  was  near  by  and  have  it  removed, 
he  replied,  "I  ain't  had  time  as  yet,  but  when  I'm  through 
grooming  this  here  mule  I  expect  I'll  drop  over  there."  "Did 
the  shrapnel  in  his  forehead  hurt?"     "Sure  it  did." 

Once  more  mange  began  to  run  its  devastating  and  dis- 
heartening course  through  the  artillery  horses.  As  a  preventive 
measure  the  manes  of  all  animals  in  the  division  were  clipped 
down  close  to  the  neck,  while  tails  were  clipped  to  a  point  3 
inches  below  the  dock.  Shortly  before  this  an  order  had  been 
issued  from  the  army  that  all  horses  infected  with  mange,  or 
animals  suspected  to  be  infected,  should  be  evacuated  immedi- 
ately. The  situation  now  became  extremely  grave.  No  stone 
was  left  unturned  in  an  endeavor  to  procure  animal  replace- 

228 


S.  S.  Agamemnon  steaming  into  Boston  Harbor,  April,  1919 


Welcoming  Home  the  102d  Infantry  and  101st  Machine  Gun  Bat- 
talion, April,  1919 


Crowded  Transport  nosing  into  Pier,  Boston  Harbor,  April,  1919 


Members  of  Twenty-sixth  Division  returning  on  S.  S.  Agamemnon, 

April,  1919 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

ments  at  this  time,  but  the  demand  was  so  far  greater  than 
the  supply  that  the  task  was  well-nigh  hopeless.  The  fact 
that  was  always  brought  forward  when  a  desperate  appeal  was 
made  for  animals  was  that  there  were  twelve  or  more  divisions 
who  were  even  worse  off  than  the  Twenty-sixth,  certain  artillery 
brigades  not  being  able  to  move  at  all.  Consequently  what 
animals  were  being  received  at  the  army  depots  were  being 
sent  to  them. 

At  last,  about  October  17,  a  shipment  of  French  stock  en 
route  from  Bordeaux  was  switched  at  St.  Dizier  to  the  Twenty- 
sixth  Division  to  be  unloaded  at  Baleycourt.  This  shipment 
of  144  animals  left  Bordeaux  made  up  of  96  artillery  horses, 
32  cavalry  horses  and  16  mules.  One  of  the  horses  died  en 
route,  and  38  horses  and  4  mules  were  evacuated  at  the  veteri- 
nary hospital  at  Treveray,  being  in  far  too  poor  condition  for 
service  at  the  front.  Out  of  the  101  animals  that  arrived  at 
Baleycourt,  48  had  to  be  evacuated  immediately  for  debilita- 
tion and  mange,  so  that  only  44  horses  and  9  mules  were  left 
to  be  issued  to  the  division.  From  this  number  only  10  of 
the  horses  could  be  considered  draft  animals,  while  only  5  of 
the  mules  could  be  considered  for  heavy  draft  purposes.  The 
little,  light-boned  horses  and  mules,  the  latter  doubtless  Span- 
ish, were  issued  to  the  machine  gun  battalions  for  use  in  the 
machine-gun  carts.  Later  the  majority  of  these  horses  broke 
down  on  the  march  back  from  the  front.  The  little  mules,  on 
the  other  hand,  as  usual  went  through  everything,  and  at  the 
end  were  still  ready  for  more. 

The  above  shipment  is  just  one  illustration  of  the  difficulties 
of  securing  animals  at  this  time  for  a  division  at  the  front.  In 
defence  of  this  shipment  it  must  be  said  that  just  previous,  on 
account  of  the  desperate  animal  situation,  telegraphic  instruc- 
tions had  been  issued  to  all  remount  depots  to  send  forward  all 
animals  that  were  even  in  fair  condition. 

Another  order  issued  from  general  headquarters  at  this  time 
stripped  all  wagon  companies  attached  to  depots  in  the  S.  O.  S. 
to  half  strength.  As  a  result  of  this  the  division  was  fortunate 
to  receive  200  draft  mules  from  one  of  these  companies.    These 

229 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

were  all  excellent  animals  of  American  stock,  and  literally 
saved  the  day  for  the  infantry  supply  companies.  Shortly 
afterwards  there  was  one  other  shipment  from  Bordeaux, 
mostly  horses  in  poor  shape,  besides  one  or  two  small  or  mis- 
cellaneous issues  of  animals,  obtained  only  after  the  greatest 
effort. 

The  Argonne-Meuse  offensive  was  then  at  its  height.  As 
poorly  horsed  as  the  division  was,  all  units  were  ready  to  push 
forward  at  a  moment's  notice.  In  fact,  practically  all  animals 
and  vehicles  had  been  moved  forward  a  short  distance  on  a 
preliminary  order,  ready  to  take  the  road  again  at  any  moment. 
Events  now  happened  in  rapid  succession.  On  November  11 
the  armistice  was  signed,  and  on  November  14  instead  of  going 
forward  in  the  Army  of  Occupation,  the  division  was  ordered 
to  the  rear.  For  nine  full  days  the  division,  with  the  exception 
of  the  artillery  brigade,  moved  straight  from  the  trenches  over 
the  road  to  the  eighth  training  area,  east  of  Chaumont.  This 
was  the  last  and  longest  hike  the  men  and  animals  had  been 
called  upon  to  undergo.  They  both  came  through  with  flying 
colors,  —  certainly  a  record  to  be  proud  of. 

The  artillery  brigade,  when  it  reached  the  area  north  of  Bar- 
le-Duc,  was  detached  from  the  division  and  became  a  part  of 
the  army  artillery.  At  the  same  time  all  but  400  of  their 
animals  were  turned  over  to  the  divisions  that  were  going 
forward  in  the  Army  of  Occupation.  The  brigade  again 
joined  the  division  in  the  eighth  training  area  on  the  20th  of 
December. 

From  the  last  of  November  to  the  middle  of  January  the 
animals  were  billeted  in  the  various  towns  of  the  eighth  training 
area,  some  sheltered  in  temporary  wooden  stables,  and  others 
in  the  stone  stables  of  the  French  peasants.  The  constant  rain 
and  mud  during  this  period  were  the  most  discouraging  features 
in  the  care  of  animals.  There  were  also  cases  of  mange  that 
cropped  out  here  and  there  among  the  animals,  but  these  were 
evacuated  so  that  mange  generally  was  kept  fairly  well  in 
hand. 

On  December  4,  by  orders  of  the  Fifth  Army  Corps,  the  divi- 

230 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

sion  turned  over  some  800  draft  mules  and  200  riding  horses 
to  the  Twenty-ninth  and  Eighty-second  Divisions  in  the  same 
corps.  These  divisions,  after  the  signing  of  the  armistice,  had 
been  ordered  to  turn  over  the  greater  part  of  their  animals  to 
divisions  going  forward  in  the  Army  of  Occupation,  and  con- 
sequently were  in  a  sadly  depleted  condition  as  far  as  animal 
transportation  was  concerned.  The  Twenty-ninth  Division  in 
particular  had  only  some  350  animals  at  this  time. 

The  last  part  of  December  the  Fifth  Army  Corps  sent  out 
notice  of  a  horse  show  to  be  held  at  Nogent-en-Bassigny  early 
in  February,  in  which  the  division  was  to  participate,  along  with 
the  Twenty-ninth  and  Eighty-second  Divisions.  While  prelim- 
inary plans  were  being  made  for  entries  from  the  division,  orders 
for  its  return  to  the  United  States  were  received.  As  the  first 
units  were  to  leave  for  the  embarkation  area  January  20,  all 
plans  for  the  participation  of  the  division  in  the  show  were 
abandoned.  However,  four  mules  and  an  escort  wagon  belong- 
ing to  Headquarters  Troop  had  already  been  prepared  for  the 
show.  They  made  a  splendid  turnout,  and  it  is  firmly  believed 
would  have  carried  off  the  blue  ribbon.  Significant  of  this  is  the 
fact  that  when  the  last  turnover  of  animals  was  made  to  the 
Eighty-second  Division,  a  special  request  was  made  for  this 
team  to  be  turned  over  ahead,  so  that  it  could  be  entered  by 
them  in  the  coming  horse  show.  There  were  other  equally 
excellent  teams  in  nearly  every  other  organization  in  the  division 
which  should  have  taken  a  prominent  place  in  the  show. 

The  latter  part  of  January,  just  previous  to  organizations 
entraining,  all  the  remaining  animals  in  the  division  were  turned 
over  to  the  Twenty-ninth  and  Eighty-second  Divisions,  as, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  private  mounts,  no  animals  were  to 
be  taken  back  to  the  United  States.  There  were  many  sad 
separations  at  this  time.  OflScers  gave  over  their  mounts  who 
had  carried  them  since  the  division  entered  the  line,  while 
teamsters  gave  up  horses  and  mules  who  had  borne  every 
hardship  with  them  at  the  front  from  Soissons  to  Toul.  Each, 
doubtless,  would  never  meet  again. 

If  the  question  were  asked:   "Who  did  more  for  the  animals 

231 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  than  any  one  else?"  the  unani- 
mous answer  would  be,  "Major-General  Clarence  R.  Edwards." 
It  was  not  only  that  he  was  a  true  horse  lover  and  possessed  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  animals,  but  it  was  the  rare  faculty  that 
he  possessed  of  making  the  men  take  a  pride  in  their  animals 
that  did  more  for  them  than  all  the  inspectors  in  the  American 
Expeditionary  Forces,  and  there  were  many  of  them.  There 
was  not  a  team  that  escaped  his  notice,  and  it  was  his  quick 
and  hearty  words  of  praise  that  made  the  driver  feel  that,  after 
all,  his  efforts  were  worth  while.  It  was  he  who  sat  down  and 
wrote  off  the  horse  order  in  the  Neufchateau  area  when  the 
first  animals  were  received,  and  which  was  so  excellent  and  com- 
plete that  it  was  later  republished  by  general  headquarters  as 
General  Orders  No.  65,  April  30,  1918,  to  be  followed  by  all 
officers  and  men  charged  with  the  care  of  animals  in  the  Ameri- 
can Expeditionary  Forces.  It  was  also  he  who  gave  unlimited 
backing  to  the  division  animal  inspector  and  remount  officers 
who  later  joined  the  division,  and  made  their  work  count  for 
something. 

Great  credit  should  be  given  to  Captain  John  W.  Mahoney, 
who  was  appointed  inspector  of  animal  transportation  by  Gen- 
eral Edwards  in  April,  1918,  when  the  division  was  in  the  Toul 
sector,  as  well  as  to  Captain  H.  Kendrick,  who  was  remount 
officer  with  the  division  at  St.  Mihiel.  Both  of  these  men, 
through  their  conscientious  and  untiring  efforts  on  behalf  of  the 
animals,  were  of  great  assistance  to  the  division. 

The  Division  Veterinary  Corps,  although  operating  often 
under  great  difficulties,  rendered  much  valuable  service.  A 
great  deal  of  individual  credit  is  due  to  a  number  of  veterinary 
officers. 

In  compiling  this  brief  history  of  the  animals  of  the  division 
it  is  the  hope  of  the  writer  that  it  will  help  the  faithful  beasts, 
who  did  so  much  towards  its  glorious  record,  to  receive  their 
share  of  the  praise.  They  are  now  scattered  far  and  wide,  but 
the  memory  of  many  of  them,  it  is  believed,  will  remain  forever 
with  officers  and  men. 

To  Lieutenant  Colonel  E.  F.  Tandy,  division  quartermaster; 

232 


S.    S.   Agamemnon   bringing  Home   Victorious   Members   of   Yankee 

Division,  April,  1919 


Getting  Straw  for  Bed-sacks  on  Arrival  at  Camp  Devens 


Scrt-eu  Telegram 

General  Edwards  decorating  Lieutenant  Paul  Hines  with  the  D.  S.  C. 

on  the  Boston  Common 


Members  of  Twenty-sixth  Division  back  Home  at  Camp  Devens 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Major  Albert  Greenlaw,  assistant  chief  of  staff,  G-1;  Captain 
John  W.  Mahoney,  adjutant,  101st  Ammunition  Train;  and 
Captain  William  C.  Van  Allstyne  is  the  writer  much  indebted 
for  their  assistance  in  the  compilation  of  this  history. 

Nicholas  Biddle, 
Captain,  Q.  M.  C, 
Division  Remount  Officer. 


233 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

"Homeward  Bound" 

On  December  30  the  division  was  delighted  to  receive 
a  message  from  their  former  commander,  General 
Edwards.  This  message  appeared  in  General  Orders  No. 
122,  issued  by  General  Hale,  which  read:  — 

1.  The  following  cablegram  from  Major-General  Clarence 
R.  Edwards  is  published  to  the  command :  — 

Major-General  H.  C.  Hale,  Twenty-sixth  Division. 

Delighted  you  have  the  division.  My  congratulations.  Give  my 
love  to  the  stout-hearted  lads  and  tell  them  to  carry  on.  "We  are  all 
waiting  to  welcome  you. 

Edwards. 

In  the  same  order  General  Hale  published  a  commen- 
dation from  the  corps  commander  of  the  conduct  of  the 
men  while  on  leave.    This  read :  — 

1.  The  corps  commander  desires  to  express  his  sincere  com- 
mendation of  the  high  standards  of  conduct  and  soldierly  pride 
manifested  by  the  members  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division  dur- 
ing their  presence  in  the  Auvergne  leave  area.  Their  behavior 
was  such  as  to  attract  the  favorable  notice  of  the  commanding 
officer  of  that  area,  and  he  was  so  highly  impressed  that  he  has 
communicated  his  sentiments  in  a  complimentary  letter  with 
reference  thereto.  The  members  of  this  leave  detachment 
reflected  credit  upon  the  division,  the  corps  and  the  American 
Army,  and  have  established  a  standard  worthy  of  emulation 
by  all  who  succeed  them. 

2.  It  is  especially  desired  to  commend  Captain  William 
Walker,  102d  Infantry,  in  charge  of  the  leave  train,  who  dis- 
played  fine   soldierly   qualities,    marked   ability   and   earnest 

234 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

loyalty  in  the  performance  of  all  his  duties.  His  leadership  in 
retaining  full  control  of  his  men  under  all  circumstances  is  a 
high  tribute  to  his  eJBSciency. 

C.    P.    SUMMERALL, 

Major-General,  Commanding. 
By  command  of  Major  General  Hale, 

Cassius  M.  Dowell, 
Acting  Chief  of  Staff. 

Following  the  inspection  of  the  division,  and  the  decora- 
tion of  the  battalion  of  the  102d  by  General  Petain,  pre- 
viously described  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Horsey,  the  next 
event  of  importance  to  the  New  Englanders  was  the 
order  to  move  to  the  Le  Mans  area  of  the  American 
embarkation  center.  This  order  was  received  with  the 
greatest  joy,  as  every  member  of  the  division.  New  Eng- 
lander  or  otherwise,  was  anxious  to  get  back  home  as  soon 
as  possible.  They  were  wearied  of  the  inaction  and 
longed  for  peaceful  pursuits.  They  had  come  across 
willingly  to  do  their  share  in  the  war,  and  had  done  it 
in  a  way  that  brought  compliments  and  decorations  from 
the  greatest  soldiers  in  the  French  Army.  Now  they 
wanted  to  get  back  to  their  homes  and  families  and 
forget,  if  possible,  what  they  had  gone  through.  The 
personnel  of  the  division  was  greatly  changed.  Of  the 
National  Guard  officers  who  went  over  with  the  Twenty- 
sixth  less  than  a  handful  remained.  The  following  roster 
issued  to  the  transportation  officers  at  this  time  will  show 
how  many  changes  had  taken  place :  — 

Roster  of  Commanding  Officers.  —  Major-General  Harry  C. 
Hale,  commanding;  Captain  Paul  L.  White,  A.  D.  C;  Captain 
Willis  H.  Hale,  A.  D.  C;  Captain  Lawrence  B.  Cummings, 
A.  D.  C. 

Division  Staff.  —  Colonel  Duncan  K.  Major,  Jr.,  chief  of 
staff;   Major  Albert  E.  Greenlaw,  assistant  chief  of  staff,  G-1; 

235 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Major  Hamilton  R.  Horsey,  assistant  chief  of  staff,  G-2;  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Cassius  M.  Dowell,  assistant  chief  of  staff,  G-3; 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Charles  A.  Stevens,  adjutant;  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Alfred  F.  Foote,  inspector;  Lieutenant-Colonel  Elon 
F.  Tandy,  quartermaster;  Major  Thomas  L.  Jenkins,  surgeon; 
Lieutenant-Colonel  William  H.  Dolan,  ordnance  officer;  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Harry  B.  Anderson,  judge  advocate;  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Charles  N.  Sawyer,  signal  officer;  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  John  D.  Murphy,  machine  gun  officer;  Colonel  George 
W.  Bunnell,  engineer;  Major  Charles  W.  Lewis,  dental  sur- 
geon; First  Lieutenant  Keith  P.  Ribble,  gas  officer;  Captain 
WiUiam  J.  Henderson,  motor  transport  officer;  First  Lieuten- 
ant Otto  J.  Conzelman,  acting  veterinarian;  First  Lieutenant 
Michael  J.  O'Connor,  division  chaplain. 

Headquarters  Troop.  —  First  Lieutenant  Thomas  J.  Byrne, 
commanding. 

101st  Machine  Gun  Battalion.  —  Major  Laurence  H.  Waters, 
commanding.  First  Lieutenant  Chester  F.  Comey,  acting  ad- 
jutant. 

Fifty-first  Infantry  Brigade.  —  Brigadier-General  George  H. 
Shelton,  commanding.  Major  Judson  Hannigan,  adjutant; 
First  Lieutenant  Silas  S.  Clark,  A.  D.  C. 

102d  Machine  Gun  Battalion.  —  Major  William  P.  Carpenter, 
D.  S.,  at  infantry  school;  Captain  John  R.  Sanborn,  command- 
ing.    First  Lieutenant  Gerald  Courtney,  adjutant. 

101st  Infantry.  —  Colonel  Horace  P.  Hobbs,  commanding. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Henry  N.  Coleman,  Captain  Robert  J. 
Hammerslag,  adjutant;  Major  Sidney  G.  Brown,  commanding 
1st  Battalion;  Major  Thomas  F.  Foley,  commanding  2d  Bat- 
talion; Major  Harry  B.  Gilstrap,  commanding  3d  Battalion; 
Major  William  J.  McCarthy,  unassigned. 

102d  Infantry.  —  Colonel  Douglas  Potts,  commanding.  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Thomas  M.  Hunter;  Captain  Cyrus  C.  Wash- 
burn, adjutant;  Major  Clarence  M.  Thompson,  commanding 
1st  Battalion;  Major  Harry  B.  Bissell,  commanding  2d  Bat- 
talion; Major  James  D.  Corbiere,  commanding  3d  Battalion; 
Major  James  F.  Johnson,  unassigned. 

236 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Fifty-second  Infantry  Brigade.  —  Brigadier-General  Charles 
H.  Cole,  commanding.  Major  Robert  H.  Barrett,  adjutant; 
First  Lieutenant  Francis  V.  Logan,  A.  D.  C;  First  Lieutenant 
John  C.  Leggat,  A,  D.  C;  First  Lieutenant  H.  G.  Lund, 
A.  D.  C. 

103d  Machine  Gun  Battalion.  —  Major  Herbert  L.  Bowen, 
commanding.     Captain  Earle  W.  Chandler,  acting  adjutant. 

103d  Infantry.  —  Colonel  Percy  W.  Arnold,  commanding. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  William  H.  Beck;  Captain  William  D. 
Martin,  Jr.,  adjutant;  Major  Horace  C.  Bates,  commanding  1st 
Battalion;  Major  Sherman  M.  Shumway,  commanding  2d  Bat- 
tahon;  Major  William  E.  Southard,  commanding  3d  Battalion. 

lOJ^th  Infantry.  —  Colonel  B.  Frank  Cheatham,  commanding. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Anton  C.  Cron;  Captain  William  H.  Stiles, 
adjutant;  Major  Edward  J.  Connelly,  commanding  1st  Bat- 
talion; Captain  John  Rachek,  commanding  2d  Battalion; 
Major  James  H.  McDade,  commanding  3d  BattaUon;  Major 
Harry  A.  Mushan,  unassigned. 

lOlst  Ammunition  Train.  ■ —  Lieutenant-Colonel  William  J. 
Keville,  commanding.     Captain  Oliver  Turner,  adjutant. 

101st  Supply  Train.  —  Major  Henry  H.  Wheelock,  command- 
ing.    Second  Lieutenant  Francis  Wyman,  adjutant. 

101st  Engineer  Train.  —  First  Lieutenant  Schuyler  R.  Waller, 
commanding. 

101st  Sanitary  Train.  —  Major  Fred  E.  Jones,  commanding. 
Major  Owen  H.  Kenan,  commanding  field  hospital  section; 
Captain  Herbert  W.  Taylor,  commanding  ambulance  section. 

Fifty-first  Field  Artillery  Brigade.  —  Brigadier-General  Pel- 
ham  D.  Glassford,  commanding.  Major  Wayland  M.  Minot, 
adjutant;   First  Lieutenant  Livingston  Whitney,  A.  D.  C. 

101st  Field  Artillery.  —  Colonel  Robert  E.  Goodwin,  com- 
manding. Lieutenant-Colonel  Frank  S.  Perkins;  Captain 
Benjamin  H.  Ticknor,  adjutant;  Major  Erland  F.  Fish,  com- 
manding 1st  Battalion;  Major  Ivar  Hendricksen,  command- 
ing 2d  Battalion. 

lOM  Field  Artillery.  —  Colonel  Jacob  A.  Mack,  command- 
ing.    Lieutenant-Colonel  John  F.  J.  Herbert;    Captain  Ray 

237 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

Harrison,  adjutant;  Captain  Lawrence  B.  Page,  commanding 
1st  Battalion;  Captain  Roger  C.  Swaim,  commanding  2d  Bat- 
talion. 

103d  Field  Artillery,  —  Colonel  J.  Alden  Twachtman,  com- 
manding. Lieutenant-Colonel  Eugene  T.  Spencer;  Captain 
Stuart  L.  Bullivant,  acting  adjutant;  Major  Norman  D. 
McLeod,  commanding  1st  Battalion;  Major  Harold  R.  Barker, 
commanding  2d  Battalion;  Major  Stanley  Bacon,  commanding 
3d  Battalion. 

101st  Trench  Mortar  Battery  (Detached).  —  Captain  James 
A.  Walsh,  commanding. 

101st  Engineers.  —  Colonel  George  W.  Bunnell,  commanding. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Arthur  Bartlett;  Captain  Herbert  C. 
Thomas,  adjutant;  Major  Porter  B.  Chase,  commanding  1st 
Battalion;  Captain  George  E.  Parsons,  commanding  2d  Bat- 
talion;  Major  John  F.  Osborn,  unassigned  (D.  S.  at  Paris). 

101st  Field  Battalion  Signal  Corps.  —  Captain  Russell  Hobbs, 
commanding.  First  Lieutenant  Archie  G.  McPherson,  adju- 
tant. 

101st  Train  Headquarters.  —  Colonel  Warren  E.  Sweetser, 
commanding.    Captain  Charles  E.  Akeley,  adjutant. 

26th  Military  Police  Company.  —  Captain  Michael  J.  Dee, 
commanding. 

101st  Mobile  Ordnance  Repair  Shop.  —  First  Lieutenant 
James  W.  Armour,  commanding. 

Mobile  Repair  Shop  No.  1.  —  Second  Lieutenant  Harry  C. 
Davis,  commanding. 

Machine-shop  Truck  Unit  No.  362.  —  First  Lieutenant  John 
C.  Aikens,  commanding. 

Machine-shop  Truck  Unit  No.  377.  —  First  Lieutenant  Clint 
O.  Perrins,  commanding. 

Clothing  Squad  No.  11.  —  Second  Lieutenant  William  E. 
Coffee,  commanding. 

Salvage  Squad  No.  20.  —  Second  Lieutenant  Harding  E. 
Sponsellor,   commanding. 

Sales  Commissary  No.  10.  —  Second  Lieutenant  Sidney  S. 
McKinley,  commanding. 

238 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

U.  S.  A.  P.  0.  No.  709.  —  First  Lieutenant  Alexander  Mac- 
donald,  commanding. 

The  entire  division  had  arrived  in  the  Le  Mans  area  on 
February  4,  and  division  headquarters  was  established 
at  Ecommoy  (Sarthe). 

It  was  on  February  2  that  General  Pershing  cabled  to 
Director-General  John  Barrett  of  the  Pan-American 
Union :  — 

Replying  to  your  cablegram  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  send  you 
a  message  about  Vermont  and  New  England  troops.  Briefly 
stated,  they  merit  the  warmest  praise  by  the  people  they  rep- 
resent. They  have  maintained  the  best  traditions  of  their  New 
England  ancestors,  and  the  spirit  of  '76  has  been  theirs.  They 
have  played  their  full  part  in  the  splendid  achievement  of 
American  arms  on  the  battlefield  and  in  the  supporting  serv- 
ices. 

On  the  same  date  Secretary  of  War  Baker  wrote  to 
Mr.  Barrett  complimenting  the  Twenty-sixth  Division. 
In  the  course  of  his  remarks  he  said :  — 

With  the  first  and  second  Regular  Army  divisions,  and  the 
Forty-second  or  Rainbow  Division,  the  Twenty-sixth  is  num- 
bered, they  being  considered  the  first  four  veteran  divisions  of 
our  great  American  Expeditionary  Forces,  and  I  would  be  glad 
to  have  the  people  of  New  England  know  that  their  division, 
the  first  of  the  National  Guard  troops  to  embark  overseas, 
bore  itself  with  distinction  and  gallantry,  and  that  it  con- 
tributed on  every  battlefield  to  America's  real  participation 
in  the  fighting  and  the  unbroken  success  of  our  arms. 

Things  seemed  to  be  coming  the  way  of  the  division 
at  this  time,  for  on  February  11  Colonels  Logan  and 
Hume,  who  had  been  relieved  of  their  commands,  were 
reinstated.     The  regiments  of  both  oflScers  turned  out  to 

239 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

meet  them,  after  the  colonels  had  reported  to  General 
Hale.  Never  was  there  such  a  greetmg.  Marching  at 
the  head  of  their  outfits  the  two  colonels  paraded  to  their 
billets,  where  each  was  greeted  by  his  staff.  Both  officers 
found  many  strange  faces. 

Colonel  Logan,  who  had  been  acting  as  counsel  for 
other  officers  at  Blois,  had  presented  his  case  to  General 
Pershing,  and  demanded  a  hearing.  He  was  informed 
that  the  officers  he  intended  to  summon  as  witnesses 
could  not  be  procured,  whereupon  he  incorporated  in  his 
brief  summaries  of  what  they  would  say.  A  hearing  was 
never  granted  to  either  Colonel  Logan  or  Colonel  Hume, 
but  both  were  simply  ordered  reinstated. 

The  last  act  of  Colonel  Logan  at  Blois  was  to  win  the 
case  of  Major  Allie  Gray,  also  of  the  Yankee  Division, 
who  was  removed  for  discussing  orders.  He  was  also 
ordered  back  to  the  division. 

On  February  19  the  division  was  reviewed  by  General 
Pershing,  who  pronounced  it  as  one  of  the  finest  which 
he  had  ever  seen,  and  the  equal  of  any  in  the  American 
Expeditionary  Forces.  The  truck  drivers  worked  for  two 
days  getting  the  troops  up  to  the  reviewing  field,  some 
of  them  being  carried  20  miles.  General  Hale  was  so 
pleased  with  this  accomplishment  that  he  wrote  the  fol- 
lowing letter  to  Colonel  Warren  E.  Sweetser:  — 

Headquarters  Twenty-sixth  Division, 
France,  February,  1919. 

Colonel    Warren   E.   Sweetser,  Commanding    Train   Head- 
quarters  and  Military  Police,  Ecommoy,  France. 

The  successful  review  of  this  division  on  February  19  by  the 
Commander-in-Chief  was  made  possible  only  by  the  extremely 
efficient  co-operation  of  the  personnel  of  tiie  divisional  trains 
in  conveying  a  large  part  of  the  division  to  and  from  the  review 
ground. 

240 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

I  am  aware  of  the  serious  obstacles  that  beset  the  truck 
drivers  in  carrying  out  their  work  in  this  connection,  and  have 
learned  with  gratification  of  their  loyal,  untiring  and  effective 
efforts  in  surmounting  these  obstacles.  It  is  at  times  like  these, 
when  such  unusual,  unselfish  and  arduous  work  is  demanded 
to  insure  success,  that  the  mettle  of  the  soldier  is  tried,  and  in 
this  case  the  prompt  and  loyal  response  to  the  demand  shows 
that  the  test  was  met  in  every  instance. 

I  take  this  occasion,  also,  to  congratulate  you  and  the  officers 
and  men  belonging  to  the  trains  of  this  division  upon  their  expert 
skill  in  so  long  maintaining  the  trains  in  a  serviceable  condition, 
and  upon  their  labor  and  care  in  keeping  them  in  a  clean  condi- 
tion. And  their  discipline  and  efficiency  in  those  respects  are 
equaled  by  their  careful  observance  of  road  regulations. 

I  congratulate  and  thank  you  all. 

Harry  C.  Hale, 
Major-General, 
United  States  Army,  commanding. 

General  Pershing  made  an  extremely  thorough  review, 
after  which  he  was  entertained  at  a  division  show.  His 
opinion  of  the  entire  affair  was  expressed  in  an  order 
issued  by  Major-General  Hale  two  days  later,  which 
read :  — 


General  Orders, 
No.  15. 


■} 


Hbadquartbbs  Twenty-sixth  Division, 

American  Expeditionary  Forces, 
France,  February  21,  1919. 


1.  The  division  commander  congratulates  the  officers  and 
men  of  this  command  upon  the  splendid  example  of  soldierly 
appearance  and  efficiency  presented  by  the  division  at  the  re- 
view by  the  Commander-in-Chief  on  the  19th  instant. 

2.  The  magnificent  spectacle  of  the  entire  division  massed  as 
a  unit;  the  remarkably  alert,  cleancut  and  healthy  appearance 
of  the  men;    the  uniformity  and  neatness  of  the  equipment; 

241 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 

the  inspiring  effect  of  the  massed  band;  and  finally  the  evi- 
dence of  training  manifested  in  the  thrilling  march  past,  —  all 
were  noted  and  repeatedly  praised  in  warm  terms  by  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief, who  desired  that  his  satisfaction  and  admira- 
tion be  communicated  to  the  command. 

3.  The  division  commander  desires  that  this  order  be  read 
to  the  command  at  the  first  formation  after  its  receipt. 

By  command  of  Major-General  Hale. 

Duncan  K.  Major,  Jr., 

Chief  of  Staff. 

The  attention  of  the  members  of  the  division,  which 
flagged  somewhat  after  the  review,  was  spurred  by  the 
military  and  athletic  tournament.  After  this  was  over, 
however,  every  one  once  more  devoted  his  thoughts  to 
home. 

At  last,  toward  the  latter  part  of  March,  definite  word 
came  down  that  the  division  would  begin  to  embark  by 
the  1st  of  April.  Great  was  the  rejoicing.  The  day  of 
days  was  at  hand. 

In  the  meantime  Brigadier-General  John  H.  Sher- 
burne, who  had  been  commanding  a  colored  brigade,  was 
returned  to  the  51st  Field  Artillery.  A  number  of  other 
former  Twenty-sixth  officers,  including  Colonel  Thorn- 
dike  Howe,  who  had  been  divisional  postmaster,  were 
also  returned  to  the  line. 

The  101st  Trench  Mortar  Battery,  commanded  by 
Captain  James  A.  Walsh  of  No.  12  Mayfair  street,  Rox- 
bury,  was  the  first  complete  unit  to  get  away.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  because  they  had  turned  in  all  their  equipment 
early,  they  had  been  able  to  sail  from  St.  Nazaire  on 
March  30.  This  outfit,  which  was  largely  made  up  of  the 
old  1st  Maine  Heavy  Artillery,  reached  Hoboken,  N.  J., 
on  April  12.  The  3  officers  and  184  men  were  immedi- 
ately sent  to  Camp  Merritt  for  a  few^  days,  and  then  were 

242 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

shipped  to  Camp  Devens,  where  they  were  demobilized. 
They  immediately  hurried  to  their  homes  for  a  while, 
pending  the  tremendous  welcome  which  they  were  in- 
formed was  being  prepared  for  the  division. 

On  April  4,  the  big  transport  "Mount  Vernon,"  formerly 
a  German  liner,  steamed  proudly  up  Boston  Harbor, 
bearing  5,824  men  of  the  Yankee  Division,  the  vanguard 
of  the  famous  New  England  organization.  Never  was 
there  such  a  welcome  as  was  given  these  home-coming 
men.  Official  welcoming  committee  of  the  State  and  city, 
headed  by  Governor  Coolidge  and  Mayor  Peters,  met  the 
"Mount  Vernon"  at  quarantine,  while  other  oflBcials, 
with  friends  and  relatives  of  the  returned  heroes,  almost 
swamped  a  flotilla  of  small  craft.  The  soldiers  were  bom- 
barded with  cigarettes,  candies  and  all  kinds  of  goodies, 
while  frenzied  shouts  of  greeting  and  the  tearful  cries  of 
mothers  were  drowned  out  by  a  perfect  din  of  whistles 
from  every  boat  in  the  harbor  and  factories  on  shore.  It 
was  an  indescribable  scene  and  one  never  to  be  forgotten. 
New  England  was  welcoming  her  own,  returned  with 
glory  from  a  righteous  war.  Castle  Island,  Common- 
wealth Pier  and  all  the  piers  along  the  waterfront  were 
black  with  hysterical  humanity.  For  many,  however, 
it  was  a  sad  occasion,  for  their  loved  ones  slept  under  the 
sod  in  France. 

The  "Mount  Vernon"  carried  Major-General  Hale  with 
his  staff  and  division  headquarters.  Headquarters  Troop, 
Military  Police,  Headquarters  Fifty-second  Infantry 
Brigade,  101st  Engineers  (less  Company  C),  104th  In- 
fantry and  101st  Engineer  Train.  One  of  the  first  to  meet 
them  and  seize  the  hand  of  General  Hale  and  his  oflScers 
was  Brigadier-General  Cole,  who  had  been  sent  over  in 
advance  of  the  division  to  help  in  the  arrangements  for 
its  reception. 

243 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

The  first  cry  of  the  men,  when  the  press  boat  neared  the 
side  of  the  big  transport,  was,  "Where  is  General  Ed- 
wards?" As  it  happened  the  General,  believing  that  the 
ship  would  not  arrive  so  soon,  was  on  a  speaking  tour  in 
Maine.  Immediately,  upon  learning  of  the  arrival  of  the 
"Mount  Vernon,"  he  canceled  his  engagements  and 
hurried  to  Boston.  He  boarded  the  ship  at  6  the  next 
morning  and  was  warmly  greeted. 

The  next  day,  April  5,  with  General  Cole,  he  was  on 
hand  when  the  steamer  "America,"  carrying  Brigadier- 
General  Shelton,  Colonels  Logan  and  Hume,  and  the 
Headquarters  Fifty-first  Infantry  Brigade,  101st  Infantry; 
103d  Infantry  (less  Companies  L  and  M),  and  Company 
C,  101st  Engineers. 

The  previous  day's  welcome  was  outdone,  if  that  were 
possible,  as  Colonel  Logan  is  a  son  of  Boston  and  the 
commander  of  what  was  practically  a  Boston  regiment. 
His  parents.  General  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  J.  Logan,  his 
brother  Theodore,  relatives  and  friends,  including  dele- 
gations from  many  associations,  were  on  hand  to  greet 
him. 

The  boats  from  then  on  came  into  Boston  in  almost  daily 
intervals.  On  Monday,  April  7,  the  "Agamemnon" 
arrived,  with  the  102d  Infantry  complete.  Companies  L 
and  M  of  the  103d  Infantry;  101st  Machine  Gun  Bat- 
talion; field  and  staff  officers  of  the  101st  Field  Artillery; 
Headquarters  Company,  101st  Field  Artillery;  A  and  B 
Batteries,  101st  Field  Artillery;  casual  companies  for 
New  York  and  Ohio,  and  213  casual  officers. 

A  coincidence  was  the  presence  on  board  of  Major- 
General  Clement  A.  F.  Flagler,  commanding  the  Forty- 
second  (Rainbow)  Division,  whose  transports  were  se- 
cured by  the  Twenty-sixth  in  September,  1917,  thus 
permitting  the  local  troops  to  reach  France  first. 

S44 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 

The  remainder  of  the  boats  came  in  on  alternate  days, 
until  finally,  on  April  21,  the  battleship  *'New  Jersey" 
brought  in  the  last  units  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Division. 

For  the  only  time  in  its  life  Boston  went  crazy  on  April 
25,  when  the  reception  and  parade  to  the  Twenty-sixth 
Division  took  place.  Seats  were  at  a  premium,  and  men 
and  women  fought  for  places  along  the  curb.  Millions  of 
people  were  in  Boston  at  this  time  to  see  the  parade  of 
the  Yankee  Division,  and  a  fitting  reception  was  given  to 
the  men  from  New  England  who  had  made  the  world  safe 
for  democracy. 

Two  days  after  the  parade  the  Division  was  mustered 
out,  and  so  ended  the  fighting  New  England  organization. 


245 


APPENDIX 


APPENDIX 


Roster  of  Officers,  Twenty-sixth  Division,  as  Originally 

Organized 


Abbott,  Frank  J.,    . 
Adams,  Burton  A., 
Adams,  Frederick  J., 

Adams,  Lee, 

Agnew,  John  A., 

Akeley,  Charles  E., 
Alcorn,  William  F., 
Alexander,  Wilford  S., 
Alfonte,  William  A., 
Allen,  Bernard  H.,  . 
Allen,  Franklin  E., 
Allen,  Lew, 

Allport,  Floyd  H.,  . 

Ames,  Charles  E.,    . 

Amory,  Harold, 

Anderson,  Robert  H., 
Andrews,  Albert  E., 
Angell,  Isaac  H., 
Appleton,  Donald,  . 

Apthorp,  Robert  E., 

Arnold,  Davis  G.,    . 
Arnold,  Howard  C, 
Ashby,  Bertrand  W., 
Ashley,  J.  M.,  . 
Ashworth,  Arthur,  . 
Atherton,  Raymond  M. 


1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  D),  103d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  G),  104th  Inf. 

Major,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (comdg.  San.  Det.),  101st 

F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  Inf.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf., 

S.  O.  6,  p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C.  (Co.  D),  101st  Mach.  Gun 

Bn. 
1st  Lieut.  (Hdqrs.  Train,  Mil.  Police). 
Major  (comdg.  2d  Bn.),  102d  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  I),  103d  Inf. 
Major  (Div.  Sig.  Officer),  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Dental  Corps),  102d  Inf. 
Captain,  103d  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  Inf.,  N.  A.,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  5,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  2,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  Inf.,  O.  R.  C.  (Co.  D),  101st  Mach. 

Gun  Bn. 
2d  Lieut.,  Inf.,  O.  R.  C.  (Co.  B),  101st  Mach. 

Gun  Bn. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  E),  104th  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  K),  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  C),  101st  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  F.  A.,  N.  A.,  assigned  102d  F.  A., 

S.  O.  6,  p.  2,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (R.  I.  Cav.),  comdg.  Sup.  Train. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  103d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
1st  Lieut.  (Hdqrs.  Troop),  26th  Div. 
Major  (Amm.  Train,  comdg.  Horse  Sec). 
Captain  (comdg.  Mach.  Gun  Co.),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Mach.  Gun 

Bn.,  S.  O.  6,  p.  10,  26th  Div. 


249 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 


Auer,  Fred, 
Averill,  Ernest  L.,  . 
Avery,  William  J.,  . 


Babcock,  Donald  S., 
Babcock,  Harold  P., 
Backarack,  Sydney, 

Badger,  Phillip  B.,  . 

Bailey,  Carl  R., 
Bailey,  Harry  M.,    . 
Bailey,  Karl  R., 

Bailey,  Thomas  W., 
Baker,  Douglas  M., 

Baker,  Norman  D., 

Baker,  Theodore  C, 
Balch,  C.  B.,    . 

Baldwin,  D wight  D., 

Baldwin,  Robert,     . 

Ballou,  Lande  E.,    . 

Barker,  Harold  R., 
Barnard,  Charles  T., 

Barnes,  Raymond  B., 
Barnett,  William  B., 

Barr,  William  H.,  . 
Barrow,  William  H., 
Barrows,  Walter  G., 

Barry,  John  J., 
Bartlett,  A.  L., 
Bateman,  Charles  J., 
Beacham,  Joseph  W.,  Jr 
Beard,  Cornelius,     . 
Beaucer,  Fred  W.,  . 
Beckman,  Albert,    . 
Beebe,  Henry  A.,     . 
Beers,  Arthur  C.  T., 
Belcher,  Alfred, 


2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  F),  103d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut,  (comdg.  Sup.  Co.),  103d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.  (8th  Mass.),  Adjutant  and  Sup. 
cer,  Sup.  Train. 


Offi- 


Captain  (comdg.  Bat.  C),  103d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  A),  103d  F.  A. 

2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C.  (Co.  A),  101st  Mach.  Gun 

Bn. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  lOlst  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  A).  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Hdqrs.  Co.),  102d  Inf. 
Captain,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Asst.  Surgeon),  S.  O., 

Hdqrs.  26th  Div. 
Ist  Lieut.,  101st  Eng. 
1st  Lieut.  (San.  Troops,  Dental  Corps),  101st 

F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Mach.  Gun 

Bn.,  S.  O.  6,  p.  6,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Mass.  Cav.)  (Hdqrs.  Troop). 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d   Lieut.,   O.   R.    C,   assigned    101st   F,   A., 

S.  O.  6,  p.  6,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Bat.  A),  103d  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C.  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  F),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf..  S.  O.  6, 

p.  5,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  L),  104th  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  M.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  1st  F.  H. 
1st  Lieut.  (5th  Mass.),  trans.,  S.  O.  3,  p.  13, 

26th  Div. 
Major  (comdg.  1st  Bn.),  101st  Inf. 
Captain,  101st  Eng. 
1st  Lieut.,  101st  Eng. 
Lieut.  Col.,  Inf.,  N.  A.  (Quartermaster). 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  101st  Eng. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  G),  102d  Inf. 
Major  (comdg.  2d  Bn.),  104th  Inf. 
Major  (comdg.  2d  Bn.),  102d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Sup.  Co.),  102d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  H),  104th  Inf. 


250 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 


Bell,  Edward  C,  . 
Benner,  Fred  W.,  . 
Bennett,  Charles  A., 

Bennett,  Roger  W., 

Bernheimer,  Clarence  M 

Bernheisel,  George  H., 

Berry,  Bernard  M., 
Bertholet,  George  P., 

Bevans,  James  F.,  . 
Binghon,  Charles,    . 

Bird,  Edward  S.,     . 
Bisbee,  Spaulding,  . 
Bishop,  Ralph  L.,    . 
Bishop,  Wilton  H., 
Bissell,  Clarence  E., 

Bissell,  Harry  B.,  . 
Bissell,  Herbert  G., 

Blackman,  Floyd  H., 

Blair,  Frederick  G., 

Blaisdell,  Frank  G., 

Blanchard,  Hugh  C, 
Blease,  Ernest, 
Bliss,  Henry  M., 

Blood,  Robert  O.,  . 
Bobst,  Frank  T.,      . 

Bogan,  Frederick  L., 

Boldt,  Herman  St.  J., 
Bonney,  Timothy  D., 
Bowen,  Charles  W.,  Jr., 
Bowen,  Herbert  L., 
Boyd,  Walter  E.,     . 

Boynton,  William,  . 

Brassil,  Thomas  E., 


2d  Lieut.  (Co.  H),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Mach.  Gun  Bn.),  103d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C.  (Co.  B),  101st  Mach.  Gun 

Bn. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  I,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut..  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  5,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  2,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  F),  104th  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,   N.  G.   M.  C.   (Amb.  Co.  No.  4), 

R.  I.  Amb.  Corps. 
Lieut.  Col.,  Med.  Dept.  (Div.  Surgeon). 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  104th  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  B),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  F),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  N.  A.  Inf.,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  5,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  G),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  Inf.,  N.  A.,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (comdg.  Amb.  Co.  No. 

4),  R.  I.  Amb.  Corps. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  5,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  104th  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  E),  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  H.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  4th  F.  H. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
Major  (comdg.  Att.  San.  Troops),  101st  Regt. 

Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  I),  102d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  H),  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  B),  103d  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Mach.  Gun  Bn.),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26  th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (8th  Mass.)  (Hdqrs.  Co.),  104th  Inf. 


251 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 


Brearley,  Harris  J., 

Breen,  Vincent  C,  . 
Breslin,  Robert  H., 

Brewer,  Arnold, 

Brickley,  T.  J., 
Brigham,  Arthur  W., 
Brigham,  William  W.,  Jr., 

Bright,  Horace  D.,  . 

Brooks,  John  E., 
Brown,  Arthur  G.,  . 
Brown,  Chester  P., 
Brown,  E.  Lawrence, 

Brown,  James, 

Brown,  Joseph  R.,  . 

Brown,  Ray  F., 
Brown,  Thomas  W., 
Bruce,  John  S., 

Brush,  Edwin  M.,  . 
Brushy,  Willard  E., 
Bryant,  Myron  E.,  . 

Buckminster,  William  R, 

Buehler,  Arthur  G., 
Buehler,  Harold  A., 
Bulkeley,  Morgan  E.,  Jr 
BuUivant,  Stuart  L., 
Burbanck,  Frank  J., 
Burdick,  Harry  R., 

Burger,  Ernest  R.,  . 
Burke,  Daniel  H.,  Jr., 
Burke,  George  E.,    . 
Burnap,  Arthur  E., 

Burnell,  George  W., 
Burnette,  William  H., 
Burns,  Cliflford  S.  F., 

Burr,  Eugene  F., 


2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Mach.  Gun 

Bn.,  S.  O.  6,  p.  10,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  D),  101st  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Amb.  Co.  No,  4),  R.  L 

Amb.  Corps. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Horse  Sec),  Amm.  Train. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  E),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  H),  104th  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  1st  F.  H. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  2,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut ,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  5,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  H.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  2d  F.  H. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  G),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  E),  101st  Eng. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  K),  102d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  D.  C,  Att.  101st  F.  A.,  wait- 
ing assignment. 
2d  Lieut.  (5th  Mass.),  trans.  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  3, 

p.  13,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  D.  C.  (San.  Troops),  102d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  D.  C.  (San.  Troops),  102d  F.  A. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  B),  101st  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  F),  103d  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Mach.  Gun 

Bn.,  S.  O.  6,  p.  10,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Mach.  Gun  Co.),  104th  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  H.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  101st  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  E),  101st  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
Colonel  (comdg.  Regt.),  101st  Eng. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  H),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Mach.  Gun 

Bn.,  S.  O.  6,  p.  10,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  H),  104th  Inf. 


252 


THE   YANKEE  DIVISION 


Burton,  A.  W., 
Buxton,  Bertram  H., 

Byrd,  Benjamin  C, 

Cabot,  Charles  H., 

Cady,  Francis  L.,  . 
Cahoon,  Harry  E.,  . 
Call,  Edwin  C, 

Campbell,  Harry  B., 
Cannon,  Charles  J., 

Cannon,  George  B., 
Cannon,  Peter  L.,   , 

Capelle,  George  C, 

Carlson,  Francis  O.  P., 

Carpenter,  Hector  J., 
Carr,  Andrew  J., 

Carroll,  Edward  E., 
Carroll,  John  C, 

Carter,  Bernard  S., 

Carter,  Elliot  A.,     . 

Carter,  George  M., 

Gary,  Melbert  B.,  Jr., 

Case,  Norman  S.,    . 
Casey,  William  J.,  . 
Cashin,  Arthur  H., 
Cass,  Lewis  W., 
Cavanaugh,  Frank  W., 
Chaffee,  Everitte  S., 


Chamberlain,  Rodman  W.,    . 
Chambers,  Marten, 


Chandler,  E.  W.,     . 
Chandler,  Theophilua  P. 
Chase,  Errol  C, 
Chase,  Harry  G.,     . 
Chase,  Porter  B.,     . 


Captain  (comdg.  Motor  Sec),  Amm.  Train. 
Ist  Lieut,  (comdg.  San.  Det.),  103d  Mach.  Gun 

Bn. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  D),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  E),  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  E)  (absent,  sick),  101st  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
Major  (8th  Mass.),  trans.  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  19. 
1st  Lieut,   (in  hospital,   struck  by  lightning), 

101st  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  B).  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
Lieut.  (Asst.  Topog.  Officer),  S.  O.  91,  N.  E.  D., 

101st  Eng. 
2d  Lieut.  (Act.  Sup.  Officer),  102d  Mach.  Gun 

Bn. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  M),  103d  Inf. 
Captain  (5th  Mass.),  trans.  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  3, 

p.  13,  26th  Div. 
Ist  Lieut.  (Co.  G),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C  assigned  101st  Mach.  Gun 

Bn. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut,  (comdg.  Bat.  F),  103d  F.  A. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  A),  103d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
Major  (comdg.  2d  Bn.),  101st  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Eng.  Train),  26th  Div. 
Major,  N.  A.  (Asst.  Adjutant). 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  B),  102d  F.  A. 
Captain,  R.  I.  F.  A.   (Regt.  Adjutant),   103d 

F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  E),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bn.  Adjutant),  103d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  C),  101st  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Sup.  Co.),  103d  Inf. 
Major  (comdg.  Bn.),  101st  Bn.  Sig.  Corps. 
Major  (comdg.  2d  Bn.),  101st  Eng. 


253 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 


Cheney,  George  W., 

Chisolm,  William  F., 
Choate,  Roland  H., 
Choquette,  Wallace  A., 
Christian,  Daniel  E., 
Christie,  Daniel  F., 
Clapp,  R.  A.,  Jr.,    . 

Clark,  Fletcher,  Jr., 

Clark.  Philip  G..  . 
Clarke,  James  F.,  . 
Clifford,  Charles  C, 

Clogher,  Ambrose,  . 
Clunie,  John  T.,  Jr., 

Coar,  Herbert  C,    . 

Cobb,  William  L.,   . 

Coburn,  James  F.,  . 
Cochrane,  James  E., 
Cochrane,  Jerry, 
Cohn,  Ralph,   . 

Colbran,  Paul  T.,    . 

Cole,  Charles  H.,     . 
Cole,  George  C, 
Cole,  Harry,     . 
Coleman,  Augustus  P., 

CoUey,  Dwight  T.,  . 

Collins,  George  H., 
Comerais,  Henry  D., 

Comerford,  John  T., 
Comey,  Chester  F., 

Condren,  George  D., 

Connelly,  Gregory  L., 

Connelly,  Peter  F., 
Connor,  Harold  J., 
Connor,  Michael  A., 


1st  Lieut.  (Conn.  Cav.)  (Co.  C),  lOlst  Mach. 

Gun  Bn. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  E),  lOlat  Eng. 
Captain  (Regt.  S.  O.),  102d  F.  A, 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  D),  104th  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  M),  101st  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  F),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat,  F),  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  A),  101st  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  E),  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Train  Hdqrs.  and  Mil.  Police). 
Chaplain,  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut..  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  N.  A.,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6.  26th  Div. 
Brig.  Gen.  (comdg.  52d  Brig.). 
Major,  Q.  M.  C.  (Asst.  Quartermaster). 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  D).  101st  Eng. 
1st  Lieut.  (5th  Mass.),  trans.  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  3, 

p.  13,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  5,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  E),  101st  Eng. 
Captain  (5th  Mass.),  trans.  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  3, 

p.  13,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Mach.  Gun.  Co.).  101st  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Conn.  Cav.)   (Co.  B),  101st  Mach. 

Gun  Bn. 
1st  Lieut.   (Conn.  Cav.)   (Co.  A),   101st  Mach. 

Gun  Bn. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C.  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (Co.  K),  101st  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  102d  F.  A. 
Captain  (comdg.  Sup.  Co.),  102d  Inf. 


254 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 


Cook,  Sydney  A.,    . 

Corbett,  Edward  F., 
Corbin,  George  A., 
Corey,  R.  T.,    . 
Corkurn,  A.  D., 
Coughlin,  Wallace  E., 

Coulter,  Andrew  F., 
Courtney,  Gerald,    . 

Cousins,  John  W.,  . 

Cox,  James  H., 

Crafts,  Addison  F., 
Craig,  George  L.,     . 

Cramer,  John  S., 

Crampton,  Earl  W., 

Crawford,  Douglas  C, 

Crockett,  Elbert  M., 
Cronin,  George  J.,  . 
Crook,  Roland  D.,  . 

Cross,  George  I., 
Grossman,  Charles  T., 

Crowley,  Edward  W., 
Cummings,  Frank  B., 
Cunningham,  Edward, 

Cunningham,  Ralph  D., 

Curran,  Arthur  M., 
Gushing,  Henry  Dwight 
Gushing,  H.  S., 
Cutchin,  Joseph  H., 

Cutler,  David  S.,     . 


Dabney,  George  B., 
Daley,  J.  T.,     . 
Daly,  Thomas  V.,   . 


2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  lOlst  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  G),  101st  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Horse  Sec),  Amm.  Train. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6. 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  E),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C.  (Co.  C),  101st  Mach.  Gun 

Bn. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C.,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Veterinarian),  Hdqrs. 

Troop. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  A),  101st  Bn.,  Sig.  Corps. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Inf..  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C.  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut,  (comdg.  4th  Co.),  Sup.  Train. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  D),  101st  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  F),  101st  Eng. 
1st  Lieut.  (.5th  Mass.),  trans.  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  3, 

p.  13,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  B),  102d  F.  A. 
Lieut.  Col.,  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  I04th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  5,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C,  Dental  Corps  (San. 

Troops),  103d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  104th  Inf. 
Major  (Instructor),  103d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
Captain  (comdg.  Motor  Sec),  Amm.  Train. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  2d  Amb. 

Co. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 

Captain  (Adjutant,  1st  Bn.),  lOlst  Eng. 
2d  Lieut.  (Detached  Service),  Amm.  Train. 
Ist  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (R.  I.  Amb.  Corps), 
4th  Amb.  Co. 


255 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 


Dame,  Ralph  L., 

Dana,  William  B.,   . 

Daniels,  Roy  A., 
Danker,  Walter  S., 
Davis,  Charles  E.,  . 
Davis,  Frank  W.,    . 

Davis,  Frederick  K., 
Davis,  George  F.,    , 

Davis,  Joseph  C,     . 
Davison,  Harold  K., 

Day,  George  T., 
Day,  Wallace  A.,     . 
Dean,  Thompson,    . 

Decker,  Ray  E., 

Dee,  Michael  J., 
Demelman,  W^ alter  W., 

Densmore,  Edgar  R., 
Desmond,  Arthur  W., 
Dewart,  Murray  W., 
Dexter,  Allan  L., 

Dickson,  Robert  B., 
Dinsmore,  D.  S., 

Doane,  Harry  L.,  . 
Doane,  Erwin  E.,  . 
Doherty,  James  A., 
Doherty,  Walter  G., 

Dolan,  William  H., 
Donahue,  Louis  A., 

Donavan,  Frank  L., 
Donavan,  John  J.,  . 
Dowd,  Eugene, 
Dowell,  C., 
Drake,  Frank  E.,  . 
Driscoll,  Joseph  H., 
Driver,  Robert  M., 

Drohan,  William  L., 


2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C.,  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  2.  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Bat.  C),  102d  F.  A. 
Captain  (Chaplain),  104th  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  I),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  I),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  A),  101st  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (6th  Co.),  Sup.  Train. 
2d  Lieut.  (Mach.  Gun  Co.),  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  2,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (Hdqrs.  Train,  Mil.  Police). 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  K),  101st  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (2d  Bn.  Adjutant),  101st  Inf. 
Chaplain,  101st  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf..  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  lOlst  Eng. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  lOlst  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
Major  (comdg.  1st  Bn.),  104th  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  L),  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  103d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.,  Dental  Corps  (San.  Troops),  101st 

Inf. 
Major  (Train  Hdqrs.,  Mil.  Police). 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
Major  (comdg.  3d  Bn.),  101st  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Sup.  Train). 
2d  Lieut.  (Veterinarian),  lOlst  F.  A. 
Lieut.  Col.,  N.  A.  (Div.  Judge  Adv.),  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Hdqrs.  Co.),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  E),  103d  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf..  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  20th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Sup.  Co.),  101st  Inf. 


256 


THE   YANKEE  DIVISION 


Drown,  Henry  C,  . 
Dniry,  Forrest  H., 
Dudley,  Oscar  C,   . 
Dume,  Ralph  L., 
Dunbar,  Donald  E., 

Dunn,  Charles  E.,  . 
Dunn,  John  A., 
Dunn,  John  H., 
Dunn,  Leo  F., 
Dwight,  PhiUp  J.,    . 

Dwyer,  William  J., 

Eadie,  Harold  F.,    . 

Eames,  Harold  M., 
Eaton,  Ralph  M.,    . 

Eaton,  William  S.,  . 

Echfeldt,  Roger  W., 
Eckert,  John  J., 
Eckle,  John  M., 
Edes,  Samuel  H.,     . 
Edgerley,  Arnault  B., 

Edmands,  Horton,  . 

Edmonds,  Edward,  Jr., 

Edwards,  Clarence  R., 
Edwards,  Frank  P., 

Edwards,  H.  Boyd, 
Elish,  Carl  M., 

Elliott,  George  R.,  . 
Ellis,  Alexander, 
Ellis,  Walter  C,      . 
Ely,  Theodore  W.,  . 
Emerson,  Bisphane  H., 

Emerson,  Harry  D., 
Emsley,  George, 
English,  Philip  H., 
Enright,  Thomas  J., 
Erickaon,  Edgar  E., 


2d  Lieut.  (Co.  F),  101st  Eng. 

l8t  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  F.  H.  No.  4. 

Captain,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (comdg.  2d  Amb.  Co.). 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  D),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  M),  104th  Inf. 
Captain  (Co.  H).  101st  Inf. 
Lieut.  Col.,  101st  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  M),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut..  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6. 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  101st  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Veterinarian),  103d  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Conn.  Cav.)   (Co.  C),  101st  Mach. 

Gun  Bn. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  D),  102d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  B).  101st  Bn.,  Sig.  Corps. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  F),  102d  Inf. 
Captain,  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf..  S.  O.  6, 

p.  5,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (5th  Mass.),  trans.  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  3, 

p.  13,  26th  Div. 
Maj.  Gen.  (comdg.  26th  Div.). 
1st  Lieut.  (Sup.  Officer,  Bn.  Adjutant),  101st 

Bn.,  Sig.  Corps. 
1st  Lieut.,  Chaplain,  101st  Engineers. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  104th  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  101st  Eng. 
Captain,  103d  Inf. 

lstLieut.,N.G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.).  1st  Amb.  Co. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  I),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  F),  102d  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  M),  102d  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  M),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6. 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 


257 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 


Erlenbach,  James  H., 
Erskins,  Leroy  G.,  . 

Estey,  Harold  W.,  . 
Evans,  Charles  H., 

Evans,  James  A.,    . 

Evarts,  Joseph  A.,  . 

Ewing,  Arthur  W., 

Ewing,  John  A., 


Fair,  Harold  I., 

Farris,  Harry  R., 
Fay,  Henry  A., 


Fay,  William  J., 
Felsted,  Joseph  E., 
Feltham,  John  H.,  Jr., 

Fenton,  Roland  T., 

Field,  Charles  W.  W., 

Field,  Elias, 
Findlay,  Roland  G., 
Finney,  Lawrence,  . 
Fish,  Erland  W.,      . 
Fisher,  Neal  H., 

Fitzgerald,  William  P., 
Fitzgibbons,  John,  . 
Flaherty,  Lawrence  J., 
Flanagan,  James  J., 
Flanders,  Frank  R., 
Fleming,  John  A.,   . 

Fleming,  Nicholas  A., 
Flenniken,  John, 

Fletcher,  Edward  G., 
Flood,  Martin  J.,     . 

Foegel,  John  R., 
Foley,  John  F., 


.     Ist  Lieut,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  lat  F.  H. 
.     2d  Lieut.,  O  R.  C.  assigned  101st  F.  A.,  8.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
.     Major  (comdg   1st  Bn.),  101st  Eng. 
.     2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
.     2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
.     let  Lieut.  (Vt.  Inf.)  (Co.  D),  101st  Mach.  Gun 

Bn. 
.     Ist  Lieut.,  N.  G.  D.  C.  (San.  Troops),  Train 

Hdqrs.,  Mil.  Police. 
.    2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 

.     2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
.     Major  (comdg.  San.  Troops),  103d  Inf. 
.    2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6. 

p.  6.  26th  Div. 
.     1st  Lieut.,  M.  C.  (San.  Det.),  102d  Inf. 
.     Captain  (comdg.  Co.  E),  102d  Inf. 
.    2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
.     2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Mach.  Gun 

Bn.,  S.  O.  6,  p.  7,  26th  Div. 
.     2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Mach.  Gun 

Bn.,  S.  O.  6,  p.  7.  26th  Div. 
.     Captain  (comdg.  Co.  A),  101st  Eng. 
.     Captain  (comdg.  Co.  C),  103d  Inf. 
.     2d  Lieut.  (Amm.  Train). 
.     Captain  (comdg.  Bat.  B),  101st  F.  A. 
.     2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
.     2d  Lieut.  (Co.  G),  101st  Inf. 
.     1st  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  102d  Inf. 
.     1st  Lieut.  (Co.  G),  101st  Inf. 
.     1st  Lieut.  (Co.  I),  101st  Inf. 
.     1st  Lieut.  (Co.  M),  104th  Inf. 
.     2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C.  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
.     1st  Lieut.  (Co.  D),  101st  Inf. 
.     2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
.     2d  Lieut.  (Co.  I),  103d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
.     2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C.  assigned  103d  Mach.  Gun 

Bn.,  S.  O.  6,  p.  7,  26th  Div. 
.     1st  Lieut.,  102d  Inf. 
.     2d  Lieut.,  lOlst  Eng. 


258 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 


Foley,  Thomas  F.,  . 
Foote.  Alfred  F.,  . 
Ford,  Alfred  J.  L.,  . 

Ford,  Leonard  G.,  . 

Forsberg,  Oscar  W., 
Forsythe,  Edward  C, 
Foss,  Reginald  E.,  . 

Foster,  Chester  C, 

Foster,  Dwight, 

Foster,  George  W., 

Fowler,  Mil  burn  M., 
Fox,  M.  K.,      . 
Frances,  Donald  S., 

Francis,  Walter  L., 

Franks,  Jerome  A.  O., 

Freeland,  George  C., 
French,  Prentiss, 

Frost,  Rufus  S., 

Frothingham,  Huntington 


Fuessenich,  L.  C.,   . 
Fuller,  William  A., 
Fullerton,  James  R., 
Furber,  Charles  L., 

Gallulo,  Michael  J., 
Gallup,  Dana  T.,  . 
Galpin,  Perrin  C,    . 

Galvin,  John  J., 
Gardiner,  Edward  H., 

Garland,  Kimball  R., 
Garlick,  William  J., 
Gatchell,  Walter  G., 
Gates,  Ernest  A.,     . 
Gay,  Grant  E., 
Geer,  Clarence  W., 


W., 


Captain  (comdg.  Co.  G),  101st  Inf. 

Major  (comdg.  3d  Bn.),  104th  Inf. 

Captain,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  11,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.,  M.  G.  M.  C.  (comdg.  San.  Troops), 

102d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  103d  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C.  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6. 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  2,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C  assigned  lOlst  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  D.  C.  (San.  Troops),  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  D.  C.  (San.  Troops),  103d  F.  A, 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6. 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Mach.  Gun 

Bn..  S.  O.  6,  p.  7,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  C),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  2,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  2,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C.  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  M),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut,  (absent,  sick  since  call),  101st  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  F),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  C),  101st  F.  A. 

2d  Lieut.  (Mach.  Gun  Co.).  102d  Inf. 

Captain  (comdg.  Co.  C),  102d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  2,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  L),  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Mach.  Gun 

Bn.,  S.  O.  6,  p.  7,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  F),  101st  Eng. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  103d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
Major  (comdg.),  103d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
Major  (comdg.  San.  Troops),  104th  Inf, 
2d  Lieut.,  101st  Eng. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  H),  102d  Inf. 


259 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 


Genard,  Aimes  D., 
Geofifrion,  Alfred  J., 

Gettings,  James  A., 
Gibbs,  Frank,  . 

Giblin,  John  F.  A., 
Gifford,  Charles  C., 
GUbert.  W.  J.. 
Giles,  Charles  B., 
Gillis,  Fred  K.  J., 

Glass,  James,    . 
Gleason,  Marten  H 

Glynn,  Edward  J., 
Golver,  Joseph  A., 


Goodhue,  Charles  D., 
Goodnough,  Henry  E., 

Goodrich,  George  L., 

Goodwin,  Robert  E., 
Gordon,  Douglas,    . 
Gordon,  Sumner  S., 

Gorfinkle,  Bernard  L., 

Gould,  Daniel  I.,     . 
Guile,  Edward  M., 

Guinman,  Clarence  J., 
Gully,  Edward  J.,    . 
Gunter,  Fred  G.,     . 
Grabfield,  Gustav  A., 
Grandgent,  L., 

Gravel,  Romeo  A., 
Gray,  Albert  C., 

Gray,  Edwin  R., 
Gray,  John  L.,  Jr., 
Green,  Walter, 
Greene,  Roger  A.,   . 
Greenlaw,  Albert,    . 
Griffin,  Ashley  J.,    . 
Griffin,  PhiUp  J.,     . 


1st  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  103d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (5th  Mass.),  trans.  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  13,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.,  101st  Eng. 
2d  Lieut.  (Hdqrs.),  101st  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.  (Staff,  Motor  Sec),  Amm.  Train. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  F),  101st  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (Asst.  Surgeon). 
2d   Lieut.,    O.    R.    C,   assigned   Amm.    Train, 

S.  O.  6,  p.  12,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  101st  Bn.  Sig.  Corps. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Sup.  Co.),  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
Major  (comdg.  1st  Bn.),  102d  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  I),  104th  Inf. 
2d    Lieut.,    O.   R.   C,    assigned   Amm.    Train, 

S.  O.  6,  p.  12,  26th  Div. 
2d   Lieut.,   O.   R.   C,   assigned   Amm.   Train, 

S.  O.  6,  p.  12,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  G),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  lOlst  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Hdqrs.  Co.),  102d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  B),  102d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  102d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  1st  Amb.  Co. 
Captain,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  11,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  E).  102d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.    (5th   Mass.)    (Aide-de-Camp,   Brig. 

Gen.  Traub). 
Lieut,  Col.,  104th  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  H),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  E),  103d  F.  A. 
Captain  (comdg.  Tr.  Mor.  Bat.). 
Captain  (Regt.  Sup.  Officer),  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  L),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 


260 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 


Grigas,  Raymond  B., 

Grimwood,  Earl  F., 

Grindle,  Wade  L.,  . 
Griswold,  Alfred  H., 

Hadley,  Harold  E., 
Hadley,  John  A.,     . 
Haggerty,  James  A., 
Hale,  Richard  A.,    . 
HaU,  Harry  G., 
Hall,  John  W., 
Hall,  Murray  T.,     . 

HaU,  Ray  W.,  . 
Hall,  Roswell  E.,     . 

Hall,  Samuel  A., 
Hallett,  Ralph  H.,  . 
Hamilton,  Ralph  S.,  Jr., 
Hammann,  George  L., 
Hammond,  Ernest  K., 

Hammond,  Oliver  W., 

Hammond,  Thomas  J., 
Hanley,  Gerald  T., 
Hannigan,  Judson,  . 
Hansen,  Arthur  B., 

Hanson,  Roy  L., 
Harbane,  William  C., 

Harbold,  Robert  P., 
Harding,  Henry  A., 
Hardwick,  Sydney  C., 

Hardy,  John  A., 
Harriman,  Lynn  H., 

Harris,  Robert  V.  K., 
Harrop,  Daniel  S.,  . 
Hart,  Charles  E.,  Jr., 
Hart,  Ezra  D., 

Hartwell,  Everett  S., 
Hartwell,  Herbert  F., 
Hartwell,  P.  B., 


2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C.,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d   Lieut.,   O.   R.   C.,    assigned   Amm.   Train, 

S.  O.  6,  p.  12,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  103d  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  C),  102d  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  E),  101st  Eng. 

Major,  103d  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  G),  102d  Inf. 

Lieut.  Col.,  101st  F.  A. 

2d  Lieut.,  103d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.  (Bn.  Adjutant),  102d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

2d  Lieut.  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  A).  102d  Inf. 
2d   Lieut.,   O.   R.   C,   assigned   Amm.   Train, 

S.  O.  6,  p.  12,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (Hdqrs.  Co.).  103d  F.  A. 
Captain  (Regt.  Adjutant),  101st  Eng. 
Major  (comdg.  1st  Bn.),  103d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  M),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  lOlst  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  I),  104th  Inf. 
Captain  (Bat.  B),  103d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.,  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (5th  Mass.),  trans.  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  3, 

p.  13,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  D),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
Major,  N.  A.  (Asst.  Instructor),  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  E),  101st  F.  A. 
Captain,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (comdg.  San.  Troops), 

Hdqrs.  Train,  Mil.  Police. 
Captain,  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  F),  102d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C,  Amb.  Co.  No.  4. 
Ist  Lieut.  (Aide-de-Camp,  Brig.  Gen.  Traub). 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  A),  103d  F.  A. 
Captain  (Regt.  Sup.  Officer),  104th  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Staff,  Horse  Sec),  Amm.  Train. 


261 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 


Harwood,  Benjamin  P., 
Hascall,  Theodore  C, 
Hassett,  Leonard  W., 
Hasty,  Percy  A., 
Hause,  Robert  E.,  . 

Hawkes,  Edgar  B., 
Hayes,  Robert, 
Hayes,  William  C, 
Hazel  tine,  Frank  G., 

Healey,  Thomas  F., 

Healy,  Jeremiah  J., 
Healy,  John  E., 
Heiser,  Jerome  M., 
Helff,  Joseph  R., 
Hemingway,  Harold, 

Hepburn,  William,  . 
Herbert,  John  F.,  Jr., 
Herrick,  Harold  W., 

Hickey,  James  F.,  . 
Higgins,  Royal  F.,  Jr., 

Higgins,  William,     . 
Hill,  Lucius  E., 
HUl,  Mahlon  T.,      . 

Hiller,  John  A., 

Hills,  Orlando  G.,    . 

Hinds,  Charles  S.,  . 
Hines,  Paul  H., 

Hobbs,  Henry  C.,  . 
Hobbs,  Horace  B.,  . 
Hobbs,  Marland  C., 

Hobbs,  Russell, 
Hoegan,  Joseph  A., 
Holmes,  John  J., 
Holmes,  Robert  P., 

Homeister,  Henry  J., 
Hopkins,  Ralph  P., 


6, 


6, 


1st  Lieut.  (Act.  2d  Bn.  Adjutant),  102d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.  (San.  Troops),  103d  F.  A. 

Captain,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  101st  Inf. 

Captain  (comdg.  Co.  A),  103d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Train  Hdqrs.  and  Mil.  Police). 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  I),  101st  Inf. 
Colonel,  comdg.  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
Captain,    N.   G.   M.    C.    (San.   Troops).    102d 

Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  L),  101st  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  E),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  104th  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  2d  F.  H. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  E),  102d  Inf. 
Major  (comdg.  2d  Bn.),  102d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.  (Conn.  Cav.)   (Co.  D),  101st  Mach. 

Gun  Bn. 
Captain  (Co.  L),  101st  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  C),  102d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  D),  103d  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Mach.  Gun  Co.),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Hdqrs.  Co.),  104th  Inf. 
Lieut.  Col.  (Inspector). 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  5,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  101st  Bn.,  Sig.  Corps. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  102d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  103d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
1st  Lieut.  (5th  Mass.),  trans.  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  3, 

p.  13,  26th  Div. 


6, 

assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 
assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

0.6, 


2G2 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 


Horn»r,  Alb«rt  A.,  . 

Hoiford,  Elson  A.,  . 
Hosmer,  George  W., 
Houley,  Joseph  P., 
Howard,  James  L., 

Howard,  Ralph  W., 

Howe,  H.  M.,  . 
Howe,  Harry  R., 
Howe,  Thorndike  D., 
Howe,  William  F.,  . 
Hoyle,  Henry  R.,     . 
Hudson,  W.  N.,       . 
Hugo,  John  G., 
Hume,  Frank  M.,    . 
Huntington,  Frederic  D 
Hurley,  James  S.,    . 
Hutchius,  Edward, 

Hyatt,  John  W., 


l8t  Lieut..  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Ft.  Oglethorpe,  Ga.), 

101st  F.  A. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  L),  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  E),  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  D),  102d  Inf. 
Major  (Conn.  Cav.)  comdg.  lOlst  Mach.  Gun 

Bn. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Motor  Sec),  Amm.  Train. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  101st  Eng. 
Lieut.  Col.,  102d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  C),  102d  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Mach.  Gun  Co.),  104th  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Horse  Sec),  Amm.J^rain. 
Major,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Surgeon),  102d  Inf. 
Colonel,  comdg.  103d  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Bat.  A),  101st  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  G),  102d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  8,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (Infantry)   (Aide-de-Camp,  Maj.  Gen. 

Edwards). 


Inches,  Henderson, 
Ingersoll,  Colin  M., 
Ireland,  William  D., 
Irving,  George  E.,   . 

Isbell,  Ernest  L., 

Jacobs,  Carlton  D., 
Jenkins,  Lawrence  D., 

Jenkins,  Thomas  L., 

Johnson,  Albert  E., 
Johnson,  Edward  A., 

Johnson,  Norman  P., 

Johnson,  Orville  P., 
Johnston,  Clyde  C, 

Jones,  Fred  H., 
Jones,  Frederick  E., 
Jones,  John  A., 
Jutras,  William  A., 


1st  Lieut,  (comdg.  Bat.  D),  102d  F.  A. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Mach.  Gun  Co.),  103d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (5th  Mass.),  trans.  101st  Regt.  Inf., 

S.  O.  3.  p.  13,  26th  Div. 
Colonel,  comdg.  102d  Inf. 

Captain  (Topog.  Officer),  101st  Eng. 

2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
Major,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (comdg.  San.  Troops),  103d 

F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Hdqrs.  Co.),  104th  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  104th 

Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Div.  Staff),  101st  Bn.,  Sig.  Corps. 
Major  (Asst.  Surgeon). 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  103d  Inf. 


263 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 


Kane,  Robert, 

Kavanagh,  Arthur  J., 
Kearney,  James  R., 

Keenan,  Barry, 
Kelleher,  S.  B., 

Kelley,  Herbert  N.. 
Kellog,  Francis  F.,  . 

Kells.  Walter  D.,     . 
Kelly,  James  V., 
Kenealy,  Martin  A., 
Kennon,  Blaisdell  C, 

Kenny,  John,   . 
Kerr,  James,     . 
Keville,  W.  J., 
Kilpatrick,  Charles  J., 

King,  Frederick  A., 
King,  George  M.,    . 
King,  John  P., 
King,  Malcolm  L.,  . 

Kingston,  James  M., 
Kirby,  Edward  J.,  . 
Kirkpatrick,  A.  H., 
Kirwan,  Thomas  A., 
Kittredge,  Paul  E., 
Kivenaar,  William  J., 
Kluge,  Ernest  J., 
Knauth,  Felix  W.,  . 
Knight,  Henry  P.,  . 
Knowlton,  John  G.  W., 
Kroll,  Nolan,    . 


2d  Lieut.,  N.  A.,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (5th  Mass.),  trans,  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  3, 

p.  13,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  102d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  Amm. 

Train. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  L),  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (San.  Troops),  101st  Eng. 
2d  Lieut.  (Mach.  Gun  Co.),  101st  Inf. 
Captain  (Regt.  Sup.  Officer),  101st  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  A),  102d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
2d  Lieut,  Co.  M,  104th  Inf. 
Lieut.  Col.  (comdg.),  Amm.  Train. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  103d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  4,  26th  Div. 
Major,  comdg.  2d  F.  H. 
Major  (comdg.  Motor  Sec),  Amm.  Train. 
1st  Lieut.  (Officer  Interp.). 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Veterinarian),  101st  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  K),  102d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  A),  101st  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  M),  101st  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  101st  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  101st  Eng. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  A),  101st  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  H),  104th  Inf. 
Major,  N.  G.  M.  C,  comdg.  F.  H.  No.  4. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  102d  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  3,  26th  Div. 


LaDue,  Charles  P., 
Lahey,  James  D.,    . 
Lamb,  Edwin  E.,     . 
Lamkin,  Howard  W., 
Landon,  Horace  Z., 
Lane,  Albert  S., 

Lane,  Ralph  W., 

Lang,  E.  H.,     . 


2d  Lieut.  (Co.  H),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  102d  Inf. 

Lieut.  Col.,  102d  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  101st  Bn.,  Sig.  Corps. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  101st  Eng. 

2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Horse  Sec),  Amm.  Train. 


264 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 


Langdon,  Duncan,  . 
Langdon,  George,  . 
Langill,  Morton  H., 
Larkin,  George  W., 

Lawler,  Daniel  H., 
Lawrence,  William  D., 
Leahy,  Francis  H., 
Leavenworth,  Dana  T., 
Lee,  Christopher  H., 
Lee,  Joe,   . 
Leggat,  John  C, 
Lentine,  G.  E., 

Leslie,  Howard  C,  . 
Lewis,  Lester  T., 
Lewis,  S.  Alger  M., 

Lincoln,  Clark  R.,  . 
Lincoln,  Winslow  S., 
Linton,  Frederick  M., 

Livingstone,  Thomas  F. 
Lockart,  Charles  E., 
Locke,  Arthur  F.,  . 
Logan,  Donald  B.,  . 
Logan,  Edward  L., 
Loomis,  James  L.,  . 
Lothrop,  Everett  W., 

Love,  Robert  W.,    . 

Lovely,  Bernard  H., 
Lovett,  Robert  N., 

Lowell,  Eugene  P., 
Lowell,  Harry  L.,    . 
Lucke,  Frederick  H., 
Lund,  H.  Gardner, 
Luscombe,  Walter  S., 
Luther,  Earl  F., 
Luther,  Willard  B., 
Lydon,  John  J., 
Lynch,  James  H.,    . 
Lynch,  W,  H., 
Lyon,  James  A., 


2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  B),  103d  F.  A. 

2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  A),  102d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  103d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  3d  Amb.  Co. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  D),  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  F),  101st  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  K),  102d  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  I),  101st  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Sup.  Co.),  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (D.  S.  Hdqrs.,  52d  Brig.),  6th  Mass. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Surgeon),  101st  Mach. 

Gun  Bn. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  102d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  D),  102d  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  102d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  A),  102d  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut,  (comdg.  3d  Co.),  Sup.  Train. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  E),  102d  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  M),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  D),  104th  Inf. 
Colonel,  comdg.  101st  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  B) ,  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  F.  H.  No.  4. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  G),  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Mach.  Gun  Co.),  104th  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  A),  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  H),  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  B).  101st  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Sup.  Co.).  103d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  E),  101st  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (D.  S.,  N.  E.  D.,  S.  O.  85),  101st  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  101st  Bn.,  Sig.  Corps. 
2d  Lieut.  (Veterinarian),  103d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  101st  Inf. 


McDade,  William  A., 
MacDonald,  Alexander, 


Captain,  104th  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.  (3d  Bn.  Adjutant),  104th  Inf. 


265 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 


MacDonald,  Herman  A 
MacLeod,  Colin  G., 
MacLeod,  Norman  D., 
Mackenzie,  John  A., 
MacMillan,  Robert  W., 
Maddocks,  L.  E.,     . 
Madison,  Burdette  R., 
Mahoney,  Daniel  P., 
Mahoney,  John  W., 
Main,  Mathew  W., 
Mains,  Charles  F.,  . 
Malaney,  C.  E., 
Malcahyt,  Raymond  F. 
Maloney,  Leonard  J., 
Malonson,  James  H., 
Maloon,  Robert  I., 

Mansfield,  Lawrence  K. 
Mansfield,  Thomas  H., 
Manson,  William  B., 

Marion,  John  F., 
Marley,  Thomas,  Jr., 

Marston,  Roy  L.,    . 
Martin,  Harry  G.,  . 
Mason,  Edward  H., 
Master,  Mellville  E., 
Mattson,  William  R., 
Mau,  Clarence  R.,  . 
Maubach,  A.  A., 
Maynard,  Oscar  J., 

Mayo,  Walter  J.,     . 
McBrayne,  Winfred, 
McCarthy,  Eugene  J., 
McCarthy,  George  E., 
McCarthy,  William  J., 
McConnell,  Joseph  W., 
McDowell,  Jeremiah  J., 
McGar,  Frank  H.,  . 
McGrew,  Donald  R., 
McKenna,  Peter  G., 
McKenney,  Henry  J., 
McLeod,  Stuart,      . 
McMath,  D.  E.,      . 
McMillan,  R.  F.,     . 
McNair,  Morris  L., 


1st  Lieut. 
2d  Lieut. 
2d  Lieut. 
2d  Lieut. 
1st  Lieut. 
1st  Lieut. 
1st  Lieut. 
1st  Lieut. 


1st  Lieut. 
2d  Lieut. 
1st  Lieut. 
2d  Lieut., 


1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  F).  101st  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  C),  103d  F.  A. 

(Bat.  B),  103d  F.  A. 

(Co.  I),  104th  Inf. 

(Co.  D),  101st  Eng. 

(Veterinarian),  103d  F.  A. 

(Mach.  Gun  Co.),  104th  Inf. 

(Co.  B),  103d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

(3d  Bn.  Adjutant),  101st  Inf. 

(Co.  F),  103d  Inf. 
Captain,  N.  G.  M.  C,  comdg.  1st  Amb.  Co. 
1st  Lieut.  (Horse  Sec),  Amm.  Train. 

N.  G.  D.  C.  (San.  Troops),  104th  Inf. 

(Co.  G),  102dlnf. 

,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  2d  Amb.  Co. 

O.  R.  C,  assigned  lOlst  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 
p.  1,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  D),  101st  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  M),  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6. 

p.  5,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  101st  Bn.,  Sig.  Corps. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  5, 

p.  6. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  E),  103d  Inf. 
Captain,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  104th  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  103d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  K),  104th  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  E),  101st  Eng. 
1st  Lieut.  (Adjutant,  1st  Bn.),  102d  Inf. 
Major,  N.  A.  (Asst.  Chief  St.). 
2d  Lieut.  (R.  I.  Cav.)  (comdg.  2d  Co.),  Sup. 

Train. 
Major,  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  F),  102d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  2d  Amb.  Co. 
2d  Lieut.  (Tr.  Mor.  Bat.). 
Captain  (Co.  B),  101st  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  101st  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  D),  6th  Mass. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  L),  102d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Hdqrs.  Co.),  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.) ,  1st  Amb.  Co. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  L),  103d  Inf. 
Captain  (Regt.  Adjutant),  102d  F.  A. 
Captain  (comdg.  Horse  Sec),  Amm.  Train. 
Lieut.  Col.  (Asst.  Quartermaster). 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 
p.  6,  26th  Div. 


266 


THE   YANIvEE   DTWSTON 


McNamee,  Frank  A., 
Merriam,  Dana  S., 
Merrill,  Harold  H., 
Metcalf,  Donald  C, 
Metcalf,  Ernest  T.  H., 
Meyers,  Richard  F., 
Miller,  Edgar  F.,     . 
Miller,  Richard  H., 

Mills,  Hiram  W.,     . 

Miner,  R.  B.,   . 
Minot,  Wayland  M., 
Mitton,  Harry  D.,  . 
Montooth,  Charles, 
Moore,  E.  Judson,  , 
Moore,  Russell  V.,  . 
Morgan,  William  B., 
Morrill,  William  H., 
Morrison,  Dana  S., 

Morse,  Charles  H., 
Moyse,  George  G., 

Munyon,  Benson  G., 
Murphy,  Edward  R., 

Murphy,  Gardner,  . 

Murphy,  John  D.,  . 
Murphy,  Thomas  F., 
Murphy,  William  A., 

Murray,  Archie  F., 
Murray,  William  H., 
Murtaugh,  Joseph  E., 
Myers,  Rawdon  W., 

Nagle,  William  T., 
Nash,  Arthur  N.,     . 
Needham,  Daniel,   . 
Needham,  Sumner  H., 
Nelson,  Gustav  A., 
Nelson,  Hendrick  C, 
Newcomb,  Erwin  B., 
Newell,  Harold  G., 
Newman,  William  E., 
Newton,  E.  H., 
Newton,  J.  Willard, 


1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  B),  lOlst  F.  A. 

2d  Lieut.,  104th  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.,  103d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  103d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.,  103d  F.  A. 

Captain  (comdg.  Co.  B),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Hdqrs.  Co.),  102d  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  101st 

F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.   (Bn.  Adjutant),   101st    Mach.  Gun 

Bn. 
1st  Lieut.  (Horse  Sec),  Amm.  Train. 
Captain  (Bn.  Adjutant),  102d  F.  A. 
Captain  (comdg.  Bat.  D),  101st  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut,  (comdg.  1st  Co.),  Sup.  Train. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  E),  102d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  D),  102d  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Bat.  F),  101st  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  102d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Bat.  A),  102d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.  (5th  Mass.),  trans.  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  3, 

p.  13,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  G),  104th  inf. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  101st 

Eng. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  6,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Mach.  Gun  Co.),  101st  Inf. 
Captain  (Regt.  Adjutant),  101st  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.  R.  C,  assigned  104th  Inf.,  S.  O.  6, 

p.  5,  26th  Div. 
1st  Lieutenant  (Co.  A),  104th  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  H),  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  H),  102d  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  C),  101st  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  3d  Amb.  Co. 

Major  (R.  I.  R.  A.),  103d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.  (Hdqrs.  Co.),  101st  F.  A. 

Captain  (comdg.  Bat.  F),  102d  F.  A. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  101st  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  C),  103d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.  (Bn.  Adjutant),  103d  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  K),  103d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Horse  Sec),  Amm.  Train. 

2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  E),  101st  F.  A. 


267 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 


Neval,  Henry, 

Nevers,  Harry  H.,  . 

Nielsen,  Edwin  B., 

Norris,  Robert  B.,  . 
Northrop,  George  A., 
Norton.  Charles  N., 
Norton,  Paul  J., 
Nye,  George  I., 

Gates,  William  H., 

Oberlm,  Frederick, 
O'Brien,  James  J.,  . 
O'Brien,  Patrick,     . 

O'Connell,  Daniel,  . 
O'Connor,  Michael  J., 
O'Donnell,  Timothy  J., 
O'Keefe,  John  A.,  Jr., 
Osborn,  John  F., 
Owen,  Albert  S., 


Page,  Lawrence  B., 
Palmer,  Osborne,     . 
Park,  Joseph  M.,     . 
Parker,  George  A., 
Parker,  George  O., 
Parker,  Harold  E., 
Parsons,  George  E., 
Paton,  John  A., 
Payne,  Arthur  N.,  . 
Peaslee,  John  D.,     . 
Pell,  Charles  E.,       . 
Pellett,  Charles  A., 
Pendleton,  Andrew  L. 
Penney,  George  S., 
Perkins,  Frank  S.,   . 
Perkins,  Holton  B., 
Perrins,  John,  Jr.,    . 
Petrofsky,  Joseph  J., 
Petty,  Orville  A.,     . 
Phillips,  Edward  H., 
Pickett,  Samuel  C, 
Pierce,  RouU  A., 
Pinches,  Francis  W., 


2d  Lieut.  (6th  Mass.),  trans.  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  3, 

p.  13,  26th  Div. 
Major,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (comdg.  San.  Troops),  101st 

F.  A. 
Major,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (comdg.  San.  Troops),  101st 

Eng. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  101st  Eng. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  I),  102d  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  F),  103d  Inf. 
Captain  (Regt.  Adjutant),  104th  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  F),  103d  Inf. 

Ist  Lieut.  (5th  Mass.),  trans.  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  3, 

p.  13,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  102d  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  E),  101st  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (5th  Mass.),  trans.  lOlst  Inf.,  S.  O.  3, 

p.  13,  26th  Div. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  102d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Chaplain),  101st  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  H),  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bn.  Adjutant),  101st  F.  A. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  B),  101st  Eng. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  101st 

Bn.,  Sig.  Corps. 

Captain  (comdg.  Bat.  B),  102d  F.  A. 

Ist  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  101st  Eng. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  K),  102d  Inf. 

Captain  (comdg.  Bat.  C),  101st  F.  A. 

2d  Lieut.  (Train  Hdqrs.,  Mil.  Police). 

1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  2d  F.  H. 

Captain  (Regt.  Sup.  Officer),  lOlst  Eng. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  102d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

Captain  (Train  Hdqrs.,  Mil.  Police). 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  F),  104th  Inf. 

Captain  (Staff,  Amm.  Train). 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  101st  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

Captain  (Aide-de-Camp,  Maj.  Gen.  Edwards). 

Captain  (comdg.  Hdqrs.  Co.),  104th  Inf. 

Major  (comdg.  2d  Bn.),  101st  F.  A. 

Lieut.  Col.,  101st  Eng. 

Major,  comdg.  102d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  102d  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.  (Chaplain),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  E),  104th  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  F),  102d  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O),  Ist  F.  H. 

1st  Lieut.  (Hdqrs.  Co.),  102d  Inf. 


268 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 


Piper,  Frank,    . 
Plummer,  Charles  W., 
Pond,  William  G.,  . 
Potter,  James  F.,     . 
Powell,  Lester  L.,    . 
Power,  John  D., 
Powers,  James  J.,    . 
Powers,  Theodore  H., 
Pratt,  Bronsdon  A., 
Pratt,  George  L.,     , 

Quirk,  Thomas  J.,   . 

Rancourt,  Mark  P., 
Rancourt,  Thomas  J., 
Rand,  Raymond  R., 
Rapport,  David  L., 
Rau,  George  A., 
Reardon,  Frank  J., 
Redmond,  Ernest  R., 
Renth,  Clifford, 
Reynolds,  Charles  P., 
Richardson,  Edward  B., 
Rieke,  Henry  A.,     . 
Rivers,  James  G.,    . 
Robart,  Ralph  W., 
Robbins,  Howard  W., 
Roberts,  George  A., 
Robinson,  George  K., 
Robinson,  Warren  E., 
Rodger,  James  V.,  . 
Rogers,  Albert  R.,  . 
Rogers,  Fred  H., 

Rogers,  John  A., 
Root,  William  H.,   . 
Rosoff,  Abraham,    . 
Rotch,  Charles  M., 
Rushford,  Edward  A., 

Safford,  Ralph  K.,  . 
Saltmarsh,  Charles  H., 
Sanborn,  John  R.,   . 
Sanders,  Thomas,    , 
Sargent,  Lester  F.,  . 
Sayrers,  William  J., 
Scanlon,  Harry  W., 
Scarborough,  Clarence  G 
Scarles,  Herbert  C, 


1st  Lieut.,  N.  G,  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  2d  Amb.  Co. 

2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  A),  101st  F.  A. 

Captain  (comdg.  Hdqrs.  Co.),  6th  Mass.  Inf. 

Captain  (comdg.  Co.  M),  104th  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  101st  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  E),  102d  F.  A. 

Captain  (comdg.  Co.  C),  6th  Mass.  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  3d  Amb.  Co. 

1st  Lieut.  (Sup.  Co.),  102d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  103d  Inf. 

Ist  Lieut.  (Co.  K),  103d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Hdqrs.  Co.),  103d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.  (Hdqrs.  Co.),  103d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  103d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  1st  F.  H. 

Major  (comdg.  1st  Bn.),  102d  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  I),  104th  Inf. 

Captain  (comdg.  Bat.  E),  101st  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  D.  C.  (San.  Troops),  104th  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  B),  101st  F.  A. 

Major  (comdg.  1st  Bn.),  101st  F.  A. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  L),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  104th  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  104th  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.  (Bn.  Adjutant),  104th  Inf. 

Captain  (comdg.  Co.  K),  104th  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  102d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  2d  F.  H. 

(Bn.  Adjutant),  103d  Inf. 

(D.  S.  Hdqrs.,  52d  Brig.),  6th  Mass. 


1st  Lieut. 
1st  Lieut. 

Inf. 
1st  Lieut. 
1st  Lieut. 
1st  Lieut. 


N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  F.  H.  No.  4. 

(Bat.  A),  102dF.  A. 

N.  G.  D.  C.  (San.  Troops),  102d  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  C),  101st  Eng. 
Major  (comdg.  San.  Troops),  102d  F.  A. 


1st  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  104th  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  103d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  102d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  D),  101st  F.  A. 

Captain  (2d  Bn.  Adjutant),  101st  Eng. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  103d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  D),  6th  Mass.  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Mach.  Gun  Co.),  102d  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  104th  Inf. 


269 


THE   YANKEE   DIVISION 


Schley,  William  S., 
Schuyler,  Philip  L., 
Scorer,  Charles  E.,  . 
Scott,  Harley  J., 
Searle,  Chester  A.,  . 
Shanahan,  William  J., 
Shanley,  J.  L., 
Shannon,  William  H., 
Sheldon,  Harold  P., 
Sheldon,  Harry  G., 
Shelton,  George  H., 
Sherburne,  John  H., 
Sherman,  Roger, 
Shipke,  John,    . 
Shumway,  Sherman  N., 
Shunney,  William  P., 
Silbees,  Henry  O.,   . 
Simkins,  William  G., 
Simonds,  George  S., 
Simons,  Aiken, 
Simpkens,  Willard, 
Simpkins,  John  R., 
Simpkins,  N.  S.,  Jr., 

Slate,  Demund  J.,   . 
Small,  Deane  B., 
Smith,  Arthur, 
Smith,  Charles  W.  H., 

Smith,  Corburn, 
Smith,  Emery  T.,    . 
Smith,  Frank  L., 
Smith,  Harold  W.,  . 
Smith,  Harry  F.,     . 
Smith,  R.  E.,   . 
Smith,  S.  Stewart,  . 
Smith,  Walter  B.,    . 
Southard,  William  E., 
Spencer,  Harry  E., 
Sprague,  Charles  H., 
Spratt,  Charles  W., 
Stackpole,  Markam  W., 
Stanchfield,  Charles  C, 
Staten,  Chester  E., 
Stevens,  Frank  W., 
Stevenson,  William, 
Stewart,  Duncan  M., 
Stiles,  William  H.,  . 
Stillwell,  Thomas  K.  P., 


1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  2d  F.  H. 

Captain  (Train  Hdqrs.,  Mil.  Police). 

Captain  (Asst.  Quartermaster),  26th  Div. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  102d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

2d  Lieut.,  103d  F.  A. 

Captain  (comdg.  Co.  A),  102d  Inf. 

Captain  (comdg.  Motor  Sec),  Amm.  Train. 

2d  Lieut.  (Veterinarian),  102d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  102d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

1st  Lieut.  (Train  Hdqrs.,  Mil.  Police), 

Lieut.  Col.  (Chief  of  Staff). 

Colonel  (comdg.),  101st  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.  (Sup.  Co.),  101st  F.  A. 

Captain  (comdg.  Mach.  Gun  Co.),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  E),  103d  Inf. 

Captain,  103d  F.  A. 

Captain  (comdg.  Sup.  Co.),  101st  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  101st  Bn.,  Sig.  Corps. 

Lieut.  Col.  (Adjutant),  26th  Div. 

Captain  (Asst.  Ord.  Officer),  26th  Div. 

2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  E),  102d  F.  A. 

Captain  (comdg.  Hdqrs.  Co.),  102d  F.  A. 

1st    Lieut.     (Aide-de-Camp,    Gen.    Edwards), 

101st  F.  A. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  D),  104th  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  C),  101st  Bn.,  Sig.  Corps. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  G),  103d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut.  (5th  Mass.),  trans.  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  3, 

p.  13,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (comdg.  Hdqrs.  Co.),  101st  F.  A. 
Colonel,  103d  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  F),  101st  F.  A. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  M),  102d  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  B),  103d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  101st  Inf. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  B),  101st  Bn.,  Sig.  Corps. 
2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  D),  103d  F.  A. 
Major,  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  D),  101st  Eng. 
1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  3d  Amb.  Co. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  C),  103d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
1st  Lieut.  (Chaplain),  102d  F.  A. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  B),  102d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 
Captain,  104th  Inf. 

Captain,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (comdg.),  3d  Amb.  Co. 
Captain  (Co.  C),  104th  Inf. 
Major,  6th  Mass.  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  F),  104th  Inf. 
Major,  104th  Inf. 


270 


THE  YANKEE   DIVISION 


Stoddard,  Malcolm  L., 
Stowe,  Roy  E., 
Strickland,  Daniel  W., 
Stromwell,  Edgar  A., 
Strong,  Joseph  W., 
Sullivan,  George  W., 
Surls,  Joseph  K.,     . 

Swaim,  Roger  D.,    , 
Swan,  Carroll  J., 
Sweetser,  Warren  E., 
Swett,  Guy  I., 

Talbot,  Bertell  L.,  . 
Tarbell,  George  G., 
Taylor,  Emerson  G., 
Taylor,  H.  W., 
Taylor,  John  C., 
Tenney,  Walter  N., 
Tenney,  William  N., 
Thomas,  Chester  C, 
Thomas,  Harold  C, 
Thompson,  Clarence  M. 
Thompson,  Frederick  J. 
Thompson,  Harold  W., 
Tibbetts,  George  A., 
Tickner,  Benjamin  H., 
Tidd,  John  H., 


Tobey, ,    . 

Tobey,  Walter  P.,   . 
Toelken,  Julius  W., 
Toppan,  William  J., 
Towne,  John  G., 
Traub,  Peter  S., 
Trombly,  Arthur  P., 
Turner,  Oliver, 

Twachtman,  J.  Alden, 
Twitchell,  Clarence  C, 
Tyler,  Samuel  A.,    . 

Vail,  Robert,    . 
Valle,  Paul  B., 
Vitalis,  Mario  M.  de, 


Wade.  William  W., 
Walcott,  William  W., 


2d  Lieut.  (Co.  I),  10.3d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut,  (Bat.  E),  103d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  D),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  G),  104th  Inf. 

2d  Lieut..  101st  Eng. 

Captain  (comdg.  Co.  E),  6th  Mass.  Inf. 

1st  Lieut..  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops).  lOlst 

Eng. 
Captain  (D.  S..  Ft.  Sill,  Okla.),  102d  F.  A. 
Captain  (comdg.  Co.  D),  101st  Eng. 
Colonel,  comdg.  Train  Hdqrs..  Mil.  Police. 
Ist  Lieut.  (Co.  D).  103d  Inf. 

Captain.  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  103d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  101st  Eng. 

Captain  (Regt.  Adjutant),  102d  Inf. 

Captain,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops).  104th  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  M).  103d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  102d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

Major.  N.  G.  M.  C,  comdg.  1st  F.  H. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  C).  101st  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  C).  103d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

Captain  (comdg.  Co.  K),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  D).  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  C),  102d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San,  Troops),  101st  Inf. 

Captain  (Regt.  Adjutant),  101st  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.  (5th  Mass.),  trans.  101st  Inf.,  S.  O.  3, 

p.  13,  26th  Div. 
Captain  (Hdqrs.  Co.),  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  C),  101st  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  K),  104th  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  F),  101st  Eng. 
Major,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Asst.  Surgeon),  26th  Div. 
Brig.  Gen.,  comdg.  61st  Inf.  Brig. 
Captain  (comdg.  Bat.  E),  102d  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.,  O.   R.   C,   assigned   Amm.   Train, 

S.  O.  6.  p.  12.  26th  Div. 
Captain  (D.  S..  Ft.  Sill.  Okla.),  103d  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Co.  L).  103d  Inf. 
1st  Lieut.  (Co.  L).  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  B).  102d  F.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  (Mach,  Gun  Bn.),  102d  Inf. 
2d  Lieut..  O.  R.  C,  assigned  101st  F.  A.,  S.  O.  6, 
p.  6,  26th  Div. 

Captain  (Brig.  Adjutant),  61st  Brig. 

1st  Lieut..  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops).  101st  Eng. 


271 


THE  YANKEE  DIVISION 


Walker,  William,     . 
Wallace,  George  M., 
Wallace,  John  B.,    . 
Wallbridge,  Robert  E., 
Waller,  S.  R.,  . 
Walsh,  James  A.,     . 
Walsh,  James  F.,     . 
Walsh,  James  J., 
Ward,  Stanley  A.,    . 
Ware,  George  H.,    . 
Ware,  John, 
Warner,  Frederick  L., 
Warren,  Walter  E., 
Washburne,  Cyrus  C., 
Waterman,  Paul, 

Watson,  Selden  S., 
Watts,  Edward  R., 
Webster,  Earle, 
Weeks,  Charles  S.,  . 
Weisel,  Admund  T., 
Welbourn,  Marshall  A., 
Welch,  William  H., 
Wendell,  Percy, 
Wesselhoeft,  Conrad, 

Westbrook,  Stillman  F., 
Wheeler,  Carroll  N., 
Wheelock,  H.  H..    . 
White,  Ralph  F.,     . 
White,  Ralph  G..     , 
Whitney,  WilUam  H., 
Wigglesworth,  Norton, 
Wilcox,  Leroy  S.,     . 
Wilkerson,  Charles  P., 
Williams,  Frank  P., 
Williams,  Howard  S., 
Wilson,  John  E., 
Wing,  Persons  W., 
Winslow,  Harold, 
Woef,  Frank  E., 
Wolcott,  Oliver, 
Wood,  Howard  C, 
Wood,  Jack  B., 
Woods,  John  C, 
Woods,  John  F., 
Woods,  Wesley  H., 


2d  Lieut.  (Co.  L),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  D).  101st  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

1st  Lieut.  (Adjutant,  3d  Bn.),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  103d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

1st  Lieut.,  Eng.  Train. 

1st  Lieut,  (Tr.  Mor.  Bat.). 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  L),  101st  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  lOlst  F.  A. 

2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  C),  103d  F.  A. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  D),  104th  Inf. 

Ist  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  101st  Eng. 

Ist  Lieut.  (Co.  D),  lOlst  Eng. 

1st  Lieut.  (Bn.  Adjutant,  2d  Bn.),  104th  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  H),  102d  Inf. 

Major,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (attached  101st  F.  A.,  await- 
ing assignment). 

Major  (Asst.  Quartermaster). 

1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  F),  102d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  D.  C.  (San.  Troops),  103d  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.  (Bat.  B),  101st  F.  A. 

Major  (Div.  Ord.  Officer). 

lstLieut.,N.  G.  M.  C.  (Jr.  M.O.),  IstAmb.  Co. 

Captain  (comdg.  Co.  C),  101st  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

2d  Lieut.,  102d  F.  A. 

1st  Lieut.,  N.  G.  M.  C.  (San.  Troops),  Train 
Hdqrs.,  Mil.  Police. 

1st  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  101st  Mach.  Gun.  Bn. 

2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  D),  101st  F.  A. 

Captain,  Q.  M.  C.  (Asst.  A.  M.). 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  K),  103d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  F),  103d  Inf. 

Captain  (comdg.  Co.  I),  102d  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.  (1st  Bn.  Adjutant),  101st  F.  A. 

2d  Lieut.  (Mach.  Gun  Co.),  104th  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  A),  102d  Inf. 

Lieut.  Col.  (Asst.  Surgeon). 

1st  Lieut.  (Mach.  Gun  Co.),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  D),  103d  Inf. 

1st  Lieut.  (Jr.  M.  O.),  F.  H.  No.  4. 

2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  E),  102d  F.  A. 

Captain  (comdg.  Co.  A),  101st  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

Captain  (comdg.  Hdqrs.  Troops). 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  F),  104th  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  C),  103d  Mach.  Gun  Bn. 

1st  Lieut.  (Adjutant,  2d  Bn.),  102d  Inf. 

2d  Lieut.,  101st  Eng. 

2d  Lieut.  (Co.  B),  103d  Inf. 


Young,  William  H., 


2d  Lieut.  (Bat.  E),  101st  F.  A. 


272 


INDIVIDUAL  SERVICE  RECORD 


INDIVIDUAL  SERVICE  RECORD 


Name 

Address 

Volunteered  at 

Drafted  at 

Draft  number _. 

Called  for  service 

Age  on  entering  service 

Trained  at 

Length  of  training  period  in  the  United  States. 


First  Assignment 
Date 19. 


.at. 


275 


Sailing  and  Arrival  in  France 
Entrained  at. 

Detrained  at 

Embarked,  port  of 

OnS.  S - 

Arrived,  port  of 

Disembarked  at 

Entrained  for 

Incidents  of  trip 


Beginning  of  Life  **  Over  There  " 
Billeted  in 19 to 19. 


Training  Period  Abroad 
.days  at _ from 19 to 19. 

.days  at from 19 to 19. 

276 


Departure  for  the  Front 

Entrained  at 19. 

Detrained  at. 19. 

Off  for  the  front 19 Arrived 19. 

Name  of  battle  front Location 

Entered  trenches  first  time ^..19. 

Number  of  days  in  trenches 

Longest  period  in  trenches days  at 

From 19 to 19. 


Battles 
Battle  of 19 to 19. 


Battle  of 

19.. 

..to 

19 

Battle  of. 

19.. 

..to 

19 

Battle  of 

19.. 

._to 

.19 

Battle  of 

19.. 

..to 

.19 

Battle  of 

19.. 

..to 

19 

277 


Furloughs 

Places  Visited 

Casualties 

Injured  at 19. 

Nature  of  injury 

Injured  at 19. 

Nature  of  injury 

In  hospital 19 to 19. 

In  hospital 19 to 19. 

Convalesced  at 19 to 19_ 

Gassed  at 19. 

"Over  the  top" times,  from 19___to 19 _ 

278 


Transfers  and  Promotions 

Transferred  from 19. 

To at. 

Promoted  from 19. 

To. _at_ 


Commanding  Officers 


Honorable  Mention 

Honorable  discharge  at  close  of  war 19. 

At 

Cited  for  honorable  mention  for 


279 


Decorations  received 


In  Memoriam 

Name Age 

Killed  in  action 19. 

Died  of  wounds  at - 19. 

Died  of  disease  at 19. 

Died  of  accident  at -19. 

Died  at  sea 19. 

Buried  at 19. 


Mustered  Out  —  Arrival  Home 

Embarked  for  home  on  S.  S . 19. 

At ---- 

Arrived,  port  of 19. 

Disembarked 19. 

Entrained  for  camp 19. 

At Detrained 19. 

Mustered  out. 1 19. 

Entrained  for 19_ 

Arrived  home 19. 


280 


Incidents  of  Special  Interest 


281 


Signatures  of  Commanding  Officers  and    Men  of  My 

Division 


282 


Signatures  of  Commanding  Officers  and    Men  of  My 

Division 


283 


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